Modi offers to appear for interrogation

Former Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi offers to appear in London for interrogation by Indian agency.


Agencies October 26, 2010

MUMBAI: Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi has offered to appear in London for interrogation by an investigation agency under the umbrella of India’s Ministry of Finance, Department of Revenue.

Forty-eight hours before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) deadline expired, Modi  agreed to not only answer questions by the body for alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act violations by IPL franchises, but also said that he would bear the travel expenses of ED officials to the British capital.

Modi was issued the blue corner notice on October 1 after he failed to respond to repeated summons asking him to appear for interrogation. The notice is an international alert to law enforcement agencies that means Modi, who has been residing in London, can be deported to India at any time.

Modi’s lawyer Mehmood Abdi told the Press Trust of India, “It’s nothing new and from day one we’ve been saying that he’s willing to be interrogated.”

Abdi said such that flying the officials in and out of London was permissible under section 131 of the Income Tax Act. “The ED authorities can appoint a commission to take a statement and collect information. It’s not anything new and is permissible under the law.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2010.

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