What the controversy is all about:
A controversy erupted after Sunday Times of London reported that former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi, an Indian fugitive living in London, was granted visa to Portugal with the consent and recommendation of Sushma Swaraj, the foreign minister of India.Sushma's daughter Bansuri Kaushal worked with UU Lalit, who was Lalit Modi's legal counsel. Reports suggested that she argued for Modi for 9 years in court.
Reports also pointed fingers at Union Minister's husband, Swaraj Kaushal, who sought Modi's help in securing admission for his nephew Jyotirmay in Sussex University.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that in July 2014, former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi sought her help to travel to Portugal from UK. She claimed that Modi wanted to visit the southern European country to sign medical papers of his ailing wife.
July 31, 2014: Keith Vaz sent emails to UK visas and immigration director Sarah Rapson. He stated that New Delhi had told him that the government had no objection to UK issuing travel document to Lalit Modi.
According to Vaz, Sushma had also spoken to high commissioner James Bevan.
Aug 1, 2014: Rapson writes to Vaz that issue has been resolved, documents have been handed over to Modi's solicitors.
Hours after Rapson's mail, Lalit Modi emails Vaz, Sushma's husband Swaraj Kaushal and daughter Bansuri, among others, thanking them for their efforts.
What the law says
Blue-corner notice pending at all Indian ports/airports; if he is traced anywhere, he should be handed over to ED.
Modi moved to London in 2010 amid Enforcement Directorate investigation of FEMA violations amounting to 425 crore in IPL TV rights deal by Lalit Modi in 2009.
He was only once interrogated by the I-T dept and ED in Mumbai in 2010.
In March 2011, the then UPA government had revoked the passport of Modi but the same was restored by Delhi high court in August 2014.
