Mumbai Top Cop Rakesh Maria Submits Report on London Meeting with Lalit Modi

Mumbai:  Mumbai’s top cop Rakesh Maria has submitted a detailed report on a meeting he held last year in London with Lalit Modi, wanted in India to answer charges of corruption, tax evasion and money laundering linked to his term as the chief of the Indian Premier League or IPL.

Mr Maria’s account was sought by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after the news broke last week of what the Police Commissioner has described as a 15-minute meeting held allegedly at Mr Modi’s request.

Mr Maria has said in his defense that he had informed RR Patil, then the Home Minister of Maharashtra, of the session, where Mr Modi allegedly revealed details of security threats to his family and him in London.

Mr Modi’s seemingly easy access to top officers and politicians while in London has plunged the government into a mammoth controversy. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s intervention last year helped him get urgent travel documents from UK officials last year; Mrs Swaraj has said that her assistance was on humanitarian grounds since Mr Modi wanted to accompany his wife for medical treatment to Portugal.  Another top BJP leader, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, filed a document backing his immigration appeal in the UK, Mr Modi has alleged, adding that the politician sought confidentiality for her “secret” affidavit.  

Following is the full text of Rakesh Maria’s detailed report: