Not received summons, never met Rahul: Lalit Modi

Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said he has not received any Enforcement Directorate summons and described as "hogwash" charges of misappropriating money.

In an interview to India Today TV, Modi also denied having met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi Vadra - in a U-turn from his tweets in early July where he alleged that Rahul Gandhi and his brother-in-law Robert Vadra were beneficiaries during his tenure as IPL commissioner.

Modi told India Today channel that the controversy "is only a bigger circus around me now".

"There are no charges against me as I have received no summons till date. I was told that the summons were sent through email but I have not received them till today," he said, referring to reports that the ED is seeking an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him.

Modi faces charges of money laundering against him in connection with the Indian Premier League, the annual cricket tournament.

"The charges that I have taken money from World Sport Group (WSG) is hogwash. It was a deal between Sony and WSG, I had nothing to do with it. They find a non-issue to target me," he said.

"I've also got a letter from Interpol that no Red Corner Notice will be issued against me and I'll be allowed to present my case," he added.

Modi also termed the charges against him as politically motivated.

"The fact that the parliament has been stalled for the past 20 days shows that this issue is politically motivated."

Asked if he had met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as he alleged in his tweets, Modi said: "I have never said that I met Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka."

Asked why he can't come to India and represent himself at the courts, Modi said: "My life has been under threat from the underworld. I don't want to take a chance with my security."

The monsoon session of parliament has been stalled over Modi's alleged links with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

Sushma Swaraj had helped Modi procure travel documents in July last year to facilitate his travel from London to Portugal for treatment of his cancer-stricken wife on "humanitarian grounds".