File Photo: Former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi
Former Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi invoked the names of British royalty, including Prince Charles and his brother Andrew, while seeking his travel papers from the UK Home Office, according to a media report today.
According to the report in 'The Sunday Times', Prince Andrew - the Duke of York and second son of Queen Elizabeth II - has known Mr Modi for several years and met him at his London home last July, just days before his travel papers were granted.
Buckingham Palace refused to say what the two men had discussed but denied "categorically" that the duke had lobbied the UK government on Mr Modi's behalf.
Lalit Modi's immigration status in the UK has provoked a storm in India after the UK-based newspaper disclosed that he rang up External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to help him acquire his British travel papers.
Although she says she acted on "humanitarian" grounds, Ms Swaraj has faced calls for her resignation over an apparent conflict of interest.
Mr Modi, 49, travelled to London in 2010 after IPL became embroiled in allegations of match-fixing and illegal betting. He denies any wrongdoings and says he came to Britain because he faced death threats from criminals in India.
In March 2014, he was granted leave to remain in the UK after a court battle with the Home Office. He later applied for British travel papers, known as a certificate of travel.
In June 2014, British MP Keith Vaz wrote to Sarah Rapson, director-general of UK visas and immigration, asking if the papers "could be made available" to Mr Modi, the paper reported earlier this month.
Mr Vaz said he helped Mr Modi because the former IPL chief had told him that his wife urgently needed cancer treatment abroad and that he needed to accompany her.
On July 2 last year, Mr Vaz raised Mr Modi's case with another Home Office official.
He wrote: "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."
Mr Vaz says he acted on the information given to him by Mr Modi. His application for a certificate of travel was initially rejected the next day.
On July 21, Prince Andrew, 55, was spotted visiting Mr Modi at his townhouse in Chelsea, a posh area of west London.
Mr Vaz intervened with Rapson again on July 31, citing the support of Ms Swaraj.
Mr Modi received his travel papers less than 24 hours later, the newspaper claims.
On August 1, Rapson wrote to Mr Vaz to alert him to the "good news" and also replied directly to a thank-you note from Mr 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 Prince Andrew had not accepted any hospitality or gifts from Mr Modi and that "the duke was not aware of the detail of allegations" against the former IPL chief.
Clarence House said Prince Charles, 66, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, had met Mr Modi on "a handful" of occasions at charity functions.
Lalit Modi has not responded to a request for comment on the latest revelations so far.