Why did Sushma Swaraj help expedite ex-IPL chief Lalit Modi's UK visa process

Sushma Swaraj has responded to claims that she helped expedite ex-BCCI vice president and IPL bigwig Lalit Modi’s visa appeal by writing to Labour MP Keith Vaz. [caption id=“attachment_2294902” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  PTI[/caption] Keith Vaz, one of Britain’s longest- serving Indian-origin MPs, could face an inquiry by the UK’s parliamentary watchdog over allegations of a conflict of interest by intervening in the immigration application of controversial IPL founder Lalit Modi. According to a ‘Sunday Times’ probe, Vaz personally wrote to Sarah Rapson, the director-general of UK visas and immigration, in an effort to expedite the case of London-based Modi, former commissioner of Indian Premier League cricket tournament. Vaz was then chairman of the influential House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee in which role he was required to scrutinise and hold to account the work of Rapson and her department, the newspaper points out. Lalit Modi came to London in 2010 as allegations of match-fixing and illegal betting related to IPL cricket tournament emerged. His Indian passport was revoked by the government in March 2011, but it was restored by the Delhi High Court in August last year. Modi has denied any wrongdoing and says he left India for Britain because of death threats. Shortly after he received his UK travel documents last summer after a lengthy legal battle with the UK Home Office, Modi described Vaz as a “superstar”. Following the reports, the Congress, TMC, Left, JDU and other opposition parties called for her resignation. Modi has been in trouble with the Enforcement Directorate and first left India for London in in 2010 amid claims that the IPL cricket tournament was embroiled in match-fixing and illegal betting. Sushma Swaraj responded to reports on twitter on Sunday morning. (With PTI inputs)

Sometime in July 2014 Lalit Modi spoke to me that his wife was suffering from Cancer and her surgery was fixed for 4th Aug in Portugal.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

He told me that he had to be present in the Hospital to sign the consent papers.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

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He informed me that he had applied for travel documents in London and UK Government was prepared to give him the travel documents.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

However, they were restrained by a UPA Government communication that this will spoil Indo-UK relations.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

Taking a humanitarian view, I conveyed to the British High Commissioner that "British Government should examine the request of

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

Lalit Modi as per British rules and regulations. If the British Government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi,

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

- that will not spoil our bilateral relations.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

Keith Vaz also spoke to me and I told him precisely what I told the British High Commissioner.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

I genuinely believe that in a situation such as this, giving emergency travel documents to an Indian citizen cannot and should not

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

spoil relations between the two countries.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015