Lalit Modi-Sushma Swaraj issue 'political jamboree': Lalit Modi's lawyer

Mumbai, June 15: Former IPL chief Lalit Modi's lawyer on Monday termed the entire issue involving External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj a "political jamboree" intended to "destabilise the government which is so far free of any scars or scams".

Addressing the media on behalf of Lalit Modi, lawyer Mehmood M. Abdi said the "non-issue is being blown out of proportion by the media", which is calling Modi an offender and criminal.

"No proceedings in any court of law has declared him an offender or a fugitive. He is staying in London with the full knowledge of and complying with British laws," Abdi said on behalf of Modi.

He said Sushma Swaraj lived up to her duty by helping an Indian in trouble, in this case Lalit Modi, to get travel documents to travel to Portugal on humanitarian grounds.

Addressing the media on behalf of Lalit Modi, lawyer Mehmood M. Abdi said the "non-issue is being blown out of proportion by the media", which is calling Modi an offender and criminal.

"No proceedings in any court of law has declared him an offender or a fugitive. He is staying in London with the full knowledge of and complying with British laws," Abdi said on behalf of Modi, who is facing investigation in India.

Abdi said the Interpol secretariat had clarified that there was no "blue notice" against Modi.

The Congress and some other opposition parties on Monday demanded Sushma Swaraj's resignation for helping Modi.

Sushma Swaraj has said she helped Modi, who has been staying in London since 2010 following allegations of financial impropriety, after he approached her last July, saying his wife was suffering from cancer and was to undergo surgery in Portugal.

Abdi said Sushma Swaraj had lived up to her duty for an Indian in trouble.

The lawyer also accused the Congress of "hounding" Modi and "losing its sense of balance", saying the party sought to compare Modi to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala had said on Sunday that Sushma Swaraj's intervention in the case was a "clear cut case of gross impropriety".

He asked whether the government would extend help to Dawood Ibrahim if he sought assistance.

IANS