UK rules out probing Vaz over complaint about helping Modi

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Jun 15 2015 | 5:28 PM IST
Indian-origin Labour MP Keith Vaz, who is embroiled in a major row involving External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over helping scam-tainted former IPL chief Lalit Modi to obtain British travel documents, will not be probed in Britain for a complaint in this regard.
Kathryn Hudson, Britain's Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, has decided not to investigate the complaint against Vaz that he helped Modi get travel documents to go to Portugal, purportedly for his wife's cancer treatment in June last year.
"The Commissioner received a complaint (against Keith Vaz) last week, but has decided not to investigate into it," a spokeswoman for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards told PTI here today.
According to British media which quoted leaked emails, Vaz cited External Affairs Minister Swaraj's name to put pressure on UK's top immigration official to grant British travel papers to Modi, who subsequently got the documents in less than 24 hours.
Vaz, 58, declined to comment today on the decision of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, saying "I am saying nothing."
After the reports surfaced, 63-year-old Swaraj said in a series of tweets that she had taken a "humanitarian view" and conveyed to the British High Commissioner that they should examine Modi's request as per their rules and "if the British government chooses to give travel documents to Lalit Modi -- that will not spoil our bilateral relations".
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jun 15 2015 | 5:28 PM IST

Next Story