Modi fears for life, won't return to India now: lawyer

Former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi perceives threat to his life from "unwanted elements" and won't return to India till the situation improves, his lawyer said in Mumbai today.

Former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi perceives threat to his life from "unwanted elements" and won't return to India till the situation improves, his lawyer said in Mumbai on Thursday.

HT Image

Advocate Mehmood Abdi also said that in response to Regional Passport Office's show cause notice to Modi as to why his passport should not be cancelled, his client had soughtclarification as to when the deadline for response expires.

"We have also asked the RPO what documents they have relied on while issuing the notice on October 15," Abdi said.

He said that before responding to the notice, Modi must know what was the "reference of Enforcement Directorate" to the RPO, following which notice was issued.

Notice requires that Modi file reply within 15 days, but Abdi said that the period of 15 days should start from the date of receipt, which was October 20.

"So according to us, deadline expires on November 4. We have sent a letter to RPO seeking clarification on October 26, but there has been no reply," he said.

Asked when Modi would return to India, Abdi said, "There is threat to his life from some unwanted elements, and he will not return till the situation alters."

Abdi denied that Modi was "absconding".

"He is communicating with ED and other authorities from London," he said.