Lalit Modi Goes on the Offensive, Dares ED, Jaitley to Act
In a series of four tweets that add up to an open declaration of war against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the former Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi has threatened to take the Enforcement Directorate to court for engaging in a "witch hunt" against him.
Earlier this week, the ED had said it intended to serve notice on Modi in a case involving allegations of money laundering. The summons could not be served, however, as Modi's Mumbai-based lawyer refused to accept it on his client's behalf, insisting that the agency serve the notice to Modi in London.
The first of Modi's four tweets said that he was yet to receive the ED's summons:
1/2 Still waiting for the so called ED notice to be served to me officially in London. No such email relieved. ED pic.twitter.com/AlTnt6rooT
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) July 11, 2015
Modi's second tweet quotes the former Interpol chief, Ron Noble, as refuting earlier ED claims that a blue-cornered notice had been served:
2/2 should know that they have to follow proper procedure instead of just saying xyz like they said blue corner ?? pic.twitter.com/l4f8Q9rHEI
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) July 11, 2015
His third tweet repeats a demand he has made earlier that other IPL administrators, including Jaitley and Congress leader Rajiv Shukla, must also be probed for the same foreign exchange offence that he, as IPL commissioner, is being solely held responsible for:
3/2 is issued. Start doing things the legal way and proper way my advise to ED or you will again get EGG on your face pic.twitter.com/ZzIerO4n0Q
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) July 11, 2015
In his fourth tweet, Lalit Modi descends to name-calling and abuse against Jaitley as well as the former Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram:
4/2 I will take you to court again if you are just on a witch hunt for your pimp boss @arunjaitley - so follow rules pic.twitter.com/9u9I38tBl6
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) July 11, 2015
Having upped the ante in this manner, it is apparent that Lalit Modi has no intention of serving himself up for interrogation by the ED. Nor is he likely to make it easy for the Narendra Modi government - under fire for having helped him acquire residency rights in the UK - to redeem its reputation by tightening the legal screws on him.
This article went live on July eleventh, two thousand fifteen, at fifty-two minutes past seven in the evening.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
