New Delhi: Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi has made stunning revelations in the row over External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj helping him to procure his travel documents in UK. He has now named three UPA ministers who helped him in his troubled time.
In an exclusive interview to India Today channel at Montenegro, Modi said that former Union Ministers -- Rajiv Shukla (Congress), Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel (both from NCP) had helped him get travel papers. All three were ministers in the previous Manmohan Singh government.
Modi also acknowledged the help of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. He said that the then Leader of Opposition in the Rajashtan Assembly, favoured his immigration application but on the strict condition that her name will not be revealed to the Indian authorities.
"Vasundhara accompanied my wife to Portugal," Modi said.
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Furthermore, Modi blamed media tycoon Rupert Murdoch for the leaks of emails exchanged between Swaraj and her spouse Swaraj Kaushal.
Modi, while referring to the Murdoch-owned Sunday Times report, said that the entire cache was the handiwork of Australia-born tycoon � who will elevate his sons James and Lachlan into top leadership roles in his entertainment empire later this month.
He also accused former finance minister P Chidambaram of hounding him and alleged that the erstwhile regime had negotiated a secret pact with UK authorities to keep him buttonholed in Britain.
Modi, who is wanted by the Enforcement Directorate for FOREX violation cases, said: "I challenge the ED to prove any charge against me."
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is caught in the midst of a controversy for helping Modi with travel documents. Sushma admitted she helped Modi on "humanitarian grounds".
The episode has caused huge embarrassment to the government as Modi is wanted by the Enforcement Directorate for financial bungling in the money-spinning Indian Premier League.
Modi has been living in London since 2010 after the ED issued a blue corner notice against him, which aims to locate, identify or obtain information on a person of interest in a criminal investigation.
