Travel document to Lalit Modi: What benefit did I pass on, asks Sushma Swaraj

New Delhi: Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said she requested the British Government to examine Lalit Modi's travel documents on humanitarian grounds.

Her response came after a television channel alleged that she had helped the IPL's architect procure travel documents to return to India.

Minister of External Affairs of India clarified her position on the issue pertaining to the controversial cricketer administrator in a series of tweets through her official account on micro-blogging site Twitter.

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

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

I may also state that only a few days later, Delhi High Court quashed UPA Government's order impounding Lalit Modi's Passport on the — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

ground that the said order was unconstitutional being violative of fundamental rights and he got his Passport back. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

Regarding Jyotirmay Kaushal's admission in a law course at Sussex University, he secured admission through the normal admission — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

process in 2013 - one year before I became a Minister. — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

What benefit did I pass on to Lalit Modi - that he could sign consent papers for surgery of his wife suffering from Cancer ? — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

He was in London. After his wife's surgery, he came back to London. What is it that I changed ? — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 14, 2015

Keith Vaz, one of Britain's longest- serving Indian-origin MPs, was reported earlier in the month to the parliamentary standards commissioner after lobbying visa officials on behalf of former IPL chief Lalit Modi.

The Labour MP wrote to Sarah Rapson, the director-general of UK visas and immigration, inquiring whether Modi’s “travel document could be made available”, revealed a report in the Sunday Times.

Modi fled India for England in 2010 after his passport was revoked amid claims of financial irregularities.

After a long and drawn out battle with Britain's immigration authorities, the former BCCI official was granted leave to remain in March last year, allowing him to apply for British travel papers.

Vaz's intervention was key in helping Modi acquire necessary documents, which resulted in the delighted cricketer administrator shooting an email to his friends and family thanking his legal team “backed by just superstar Keith Vaz.”

Back then Vaz occupied the chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, which he could retain in the weekend election. Home Affairs Select Committee holds the immigration authorities to account.

However, Vaz has stated there was “no conflict of interest” and said the letter was written because Minal Modi, Lalit's wife had cancer, needing to travel abroad for treatment.

Andrew Bridgen, But Conservative MP referred the matter to Kathryn Hudson, parliamentary standards commissioner