How India bungled on the red corner notice against Lalit Modi

The refusal by the Interpol to entertain a red corner notice against former IPL chairman, Lalit Modi is a major set back for Indian agencies. The Interpol statement read that it had deleted all data relating to Modi from its records.

While this is a setback, the question is did the Indian agencies do enough to put up a good case before the Interpol. It is the case of the Enforcement Directorate that Lalit Modi had indulged in corruption and swindled the BCCI.

While the agencies claim that it has evidence against Lalit Modi, the bigger issue is whether the CBI which represents India at the Interpol put up a strong argument. The agencies had informed the Interpol that Modi was part of a criminal conspiracy.

Modi's defence was that formal charges were yet to be filed. Formal charges before a court of law had not been filed as yet since the agency did not have any evidence against him, Modi contended. He further submitted that after going through the details of the overseas accounts, the agencies had found nothing. Further he also pointed out that no serious attempt had been made to extradite him. This itself makes it clear there is no evidence he argued.

The CBI on the other hand said that the probe was still underway. Moreover the probe into the overseas accounts is still under investigation, the agency contended. On the question of extradition, the agency said that it was not pursuing the same with the UK.

Instead it would seek Modi's custody through the legal assistance treaty.

The Interpol said that India is yet to factually establish if the money came to Modi's account. Hence a red corner notice would be premature, the commission also noted.

OneIndia News