Sushma did no wrong in Lalit Modi case, says Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday said that former IPL chief Lalit Modi can be brought to India and punished, but also backed his colleague, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, insisting that she had not broken any law or committed any impropriety.

Speaking at an all-Goa party workers meeting held near here, he criticised the opposition for raking up, what he described, as a chorus of false allegations against Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

"We asked in the Rajya Sabha what are the list of crimes committed by Sushma Swaraj. No one could say a thing because there was no crime, not even impropriety. What she did was correct. You can bring Lalit Modi back and punish him or do whatever you want. But she has not violated law. She is willing to say it in Parliament... But the Opposition does not want to hear that," Parrikar said.

Sushma Swaraj has been accused of helping Modi, the former Indian Premier League commissioner and an Enforcement Directorate accused, secure British travel documents. In her defence, she has claimed that the help offered to Modi was on compassionate grounds.