Lalit Modi drags Sonia, Varun into escalating row

However, Varun denied the allegation as 'absolutely baseless'

Levelling fresh allegations, Lalit Modi on Wednesday sought to drag Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi into the escalating row involving the controversial former IPL chief.

Modi alleged that Varun had met him at his house in London and offered a deal to “settle” matters with Sonia Gandhi, a charge dubbed by the BJP member of Parliament as “baseless” and “nonsense”.

“Mr @varungandhi80 came to see me at my house a few years ago and said he can settle everything in @INCIndia with his aunt(Sonia). He wanted me to meet her sister from Italy. I heard him next I heard from our common friend who introduced us that Auntie wants $60 million. Told them whaaaat are u nuts go HKG a kite. Can he deny that. I hope he does,” Modi alleged in a series of tweets.

Vehemently denying the charge, Varun told PTI, “This is absolutely baseless and it is beneath my dignity to respond to this nonsense.”

The BJP also came to Varun’s defence, saying he is in a different party than Sonia Gandhi. “Varun Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are in different parties and the world knows about the ties between the two families,” BJP Spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said. 

In another set of tweets, “Please mr @varungandhi80 - let the world know what you told about what auntie wants - witness is our good friend world renowned astrologer. Please clarify @varungandhi80 did u or did u not come to my house in london. Whilst staying at the Ritz hotel in lon(don) a few years ago - the auntie he refers to is #soniagandhi. The sister is #soniagandhi sister - just for clarity,” he said in tweets.