New Delhi: Vasundhara Raje, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, is battling a storm over her support to disgraced cricket boss Lalit Modi but legal sources have told NDTV that she is not the only one - many more VIPs signed affidavits to support Mr Modi's immigration request to the UK.
Senior lawyers connected to the case say the names are listed in a lower court order that was endorsed in 2013 by the UK Upper Tribunal when it granted Lalit Modi's request to stay on because of a threat to his life.
The Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) referred to more "credible witnesses" listed in the lower court order, and if this list comes in the public domain, many more names could be drawn into the escalating controversy, sources say.
The court's order in July 2013, accessed by NDTV, said: "The continuing dangers presented to the claimant's life, and the political background to why the Indian authorities had drastically reduced their level of protection of the claimant, were attested to by credible witnesses."
These witnesses are believed to be high profile names; like Vasundhara Raje, they signed affidavits in 2011 on condition of anonymity.
The list is believed to include businessmen, media persons and also other politicians, and it could be revealed soon, say sources.
Lalit Modi went to the UK in 2011 amid a flurry of corruption allegations linked to his stint as the chairman of the multi-billion dollar Indian Premier League. In March 2011, his passport was revoked by the Indian authorities and he refused to return to India citing threats to his life. Mr Modi appealed to a lower immigration court and in August 2011, Vasundhara Raje, then leader of Opposition in Rajasthan, testified in his favour while on a visit to London.
Though Ms Raje did not refer to any threats to Mr Modi's safety, she did claim that he was the victim of a political witch hunt by the Congress party.
Senior lawyers connected to the case say the names are listed in a lower court order that was endorsed in 2013 by the UK Upper Tribunal when it granted Lalit Modi's request to stay on because of a threat to his life.
The Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) referred to more "credible witnesses" listed in the lower court order, and if this list comes in the public domain, many more names could be drawn into the escalating controversy, sources say.
These witnesses are believed to be high profile names; like Vasundhara Raje, they signed affidavits in 2011 on condition of anonymity.
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Lalit Modi went to the UK in 2011 amid a flurry of corruption allegations linked to his stint as the chairman of the multi-billion dollar Indian Premier League. In March 2011, his passport was revoked by the Indian authorities and he refused to return to India citing threats to his life. Mr Modi appealed to a lower immigration court and in August 2011, Vasundhara Raje, then leader of Opposition in Rajasthan, testified in his favour while on a visit to London.
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