The BJP attacked the Congress on Thursday for allegedly shielding fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is currently defending himself in extradition proceedings against him in the UK.
File Photo of Nirav Modi
The BJP attacked the Congress on Thursday for allegedly shielding fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, who is currently defending himself in extradition proceedings against him in the UK.
During a press conference, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that former Bombay High Court judge and Congress leader Abhay Thipsay had appeared as a defence witness in the Nirav Modi case in a bid to save the latter who is wanted back in India in an 11,000 crore bank fraud case.
“A retired Bombay High Court judge Abhay Thipsay said in an extradition matter via video link on Wednesday that there is no case against Nirav Modi. We’ve said it before that the Congress always plays a saviour in the Nirav Modi case,” said Prasad.
The BJP alleged that 10 months before his retirement in 2018, Thipsay had been transferred by the Supreme Court collegium from the Bombay High Court to the Allahabad High Court on “administrative grounds”.
THIPSAY: THE BJP HAS GRUDGE AGAINST ME
Reacting to this, Thipsay told India Today TV in an exclusive interview, “BJP leaders have defended the Congress in court cases. Jaitley’s daughter was on Nirav Modi’s defence team. Because of my fearlessness, if my past judgements hurt you and you have some grudges against me, you take any opportunity to talk any non-sense, then what can be done? I want the press to stand by me. I have never met Nirav Modi personally.”
“A UK-based law firm contacted me and requested me to give my professional opinion in the Nirav Modi case. After retirement, I now work as a consultant and an arbitrator… I had accepted the primary membership of the Congress on an invitation. But I’m neither an office bearer nor do I hold any position in the government. I have no opinion on who is a good person and who is a bad person… I don’t understand why this is being made political. I take fees to give my opinion,” he added.
