Lalit Modi row: Chidambaram accuses Sushma of nepotism

Chennai, June 17: Accusing External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj of "nepotism" and abuse of authority in facilitating travel documents for Lalit Modi, Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday asked the government about the steps it has taken to bring back the former IPL chief to face inquiries.

Talking to media persons here, Chidambaram said accusations made by Modi about the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government hounding him were "laughable".

Chidambaram said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has confirmed that the Enforcement Directorate was investigating 16 cases against Modi and show cause notice was issued in 15 of these cases.

Posing seven questions to the government, Chidambaram said if Sushma Swaraj wanted to facilitate Modi getting travel documents on humanitarian grounds, she should have asked him to get in touch with the Indian High Commission in London.

"Why did she feel he should have UK travel documents rather than Indian travel documents?" he asked.

Levelling a series of allegations, Chidambaram said it was "nepotism, abuse of authority and violation of rules".

Chidambaram, who held the finance portfolio in the UPA government, asked the National Democratic Alliance government to make public the letters exchanged between Modi and the then British Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne.