NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday continued with its attack in the Lalit Modi row and questioned why the government did not appeal against the court relief to the former IPL chief in his passport case.

"Who took the decision not to appeal against Delhi HC order that restored passport to Lalit Modi? Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram asked.

Govt must make public who took the decision to issue a fresh passport to Lalit Modi, he said.

The Congress leader wanted the government to release the letters exchanged between him as finance minister and the Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne in which he had urged for sending Lalit Modi back to India since he was facing criminal charges here.

He said after the reply to his first letter, he had written a second letter couched in stronger words to Osborne that Lalit Modi was facing investigations in India, his passport has been revoked, he had no right to live in the UK and he should be sent back to India.

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In the letter, I told UK government that Lalit Modi was without valid passport and urged them to take steps to send him back to India, Chidamabaram said.

The former finance minister said Sushma's conduct in helping Lalit Modi on humanitarian grounds raised several questions.

"If Sushma wanted to support Lalit on humanitarian grounds, she should have asked him to go to Indian High Commission," Chidambaram said.

Govt must use its authority to ensure Modi returns to India and face ED probe, the former finance minister said.

Chidamabram raised seven questions to the government

1. Why is government not releasing letters exchanged with UK in the Lalit Modi case?

2. Why did Sushma Swaraj not ask Lalit Modi to apply for limited travel documentation at the Indian high commission in the UK?

3. Why did Sushma Swaraj not persuade Lalit Modi to return to India?

4. Who took the decision not to file an appeal in Supreme Court after the high court's relief to Lalit Modi in passport case?

5. Who took the decision to grant Lalit Modi a fresh passport?

6. What has the government done to make sure Lalit Modi respects the summons by the Enforcement Directorate?

7. Can't the NDA government ensure Lalit Modi's safety?

(With inputs from agencies)

