New Delhi, Jun 21 (HT): Controversial former IPL chief Lalit Modi invoked the names of members of Britain’s royal family, including Prince Charles and his brother Andrew, while seeking British travel papers, according to a media report on Sunday.
The Sunday Times reported that Andrew – the Duke of York and second son of Queen Elizabeth II – has known Modi for several years and met him at his London home last July, just days before his travel papers were granted.
Modi, the founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket tournament, said he had also raised the matter with Prince Charles, according to a leaked email sent by Keith Vaz, the well-known MP of Indian origin, to a Home Office official.
Buckingham Palace refused to say what Modi and Prince Andrew had discussed but denied “categorically” that the Duke of York had lobbied the government on Modi’s behalf.
Earlier this month, the newspaper revealed that Vaz intervened on Modi’s behalf with the head of Britain’s immigration service.
Modi, who has been living outside India for several years, faces 16 Enforcement Directorate cases and has become a headache for the BJP-led government after The Sunday Times reported external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj helped him obtain British travel documents to fly to Portugal to be with his ailing wife.
Though Swaraj says she helped Modi purely on "humanitarian" grounds, she has faced calls for her resignation over an apparent conflict of interest.
In June 2014, Vaz wrote to Sarah Rapson, director general of UK visas and immigration, asking if travel papers "could be made available" to the 49-year-old Modi.
On July 2 last year, Vaz raised Modi's case with another Home Office official.
The MP wrote in an email: "Mr Modi informs me that he met the Prince of Wales (Charles)... and he also met Prince Andrew two days ago. Both offered to help resolve this matter as he was complaining about missing the wedding of his sister and the inability to meet amongst others the president of the Seychelles."
Vaz said he acted on information given to him by Modi.
Modi's application for a certificate of travel was initially rejected on July 3 last year.
On July 21, Prince Andrew, 55, was spotted visiting Modi’s seven-storey townhouse in Chelsea, a posh area of west London.
Vaz intervened with Rapson again on July 31, citing the support extended by Swaraj. Modi received his travel papers less than 24 hours later, The Sunday Times reported.
On August 1, Rapson wrote to Vaz to alert him to the "good news" and replied directly to a thank-you note from Modi.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said: "While we would never comment on the private meetings or conversations of members of the royal family, I can confirm that the Duke of York has known Mr Modi over a number of years.
"The duke is fully aware that policy and decisions relating to immigration issues are a matter for the Home Office. It is categorically untrue that he has sought to influence decisions on these issues."
The spokesman said Andrew had not accepted any hospitality or gifts from Modi and that "the duke was not aware of the detail of allegations" against Modi.
Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles, 66, said he and his wife Camilla had met Modi on "a handful" of occasions at charity functions.
Modi moved to London in 2010 after the IPL became embroiled in allegations of match-fixing and illegal betting. He denies any wrongdoing and says he came to Britain because he faced death threats from criminals in India.
In March 2014, Modi was granted leave to remain in Britain after a court battle with the Home Office.