New Delhi:
Lalit Modi's tweets about "meeting the Gandhi family" in London have been seized by the ruling BJP as it confronts calls for the resignation of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for helping the graft-accused cricket boss.
In a three-part tweet, the former IPL commissioner said that he was "happy to meet the Gandhi family in London" and that he had bumped into Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka and her husband Robert Vadra at a restaurant.
But in another tweet, he revealed that the meeting was last year: "If I remember correctly it was last year and the year before. Doubt either reported it to anyone. They were in power then."
The tweets also refer to Timmy Sarna, the managing director of DLF Brands. Priyanka Gandhi's office has denied any meeting or interaction with Lalit Modi.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala called Lalit Modi's posts "juvenile." He said: "I can say with full responsibility that neither Priyanka Gandhi nor Robert Vadra ever interacted with Lalit Modi socially. If you see somebody in a restaurant, it is not a crime."
The BJP said the Congress must explain why its leaders were in touch with the former IPL chief. "We want to ask questions as to why the Gandhi family was constantly in touch with Lalit Modi. As to why yesterday also they were meeting Lalit Modi. It's thus obvious that none other than Sonia Gandhi can bring this to forefront," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.
BJP sources have come out in support of Vasundhara Raje, who signed a secret witness statement favouring Lalit Modi's immigration into the UK at a time he was being investigated for corruption linked to the multi-billion dollar Indian Premier League, and his passport was cancelled by the Indian government.
Sources in the BJP say no charge of financial corruption has been found against Ms Raje and Lalit Modi is "not a fugitive" since he has not been declared one by a court of law.