MEA declines RTI plea on Lalit Modi passport

Sushma Swaraj-led ministry rejected an RTI plea for information on restoration of the ex-IPL chief’s passport, saying some of the seven questions didn’t come under the law’s purview while pleading lack of information on the others >>

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) has declined to provide information to an RTI plea containing queries on aspects related to the controversy over restoration of the passport of Indian Premier League (IPL)’s former boss Lalit Modi.

Responding to an RTI plea containing seven questions, the MEA said while a part of the queries did not come under the purview of the transparency law and regarding others it pleaded lack of information.

The questions included one about who took the decision on not appealing in the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court’s 2014 decision restoring Modi’s passport in 2010.

“The office of external affairs minister (EAM) has informed that the questions in Serial 1 to 3 of your RTI do not seem to fall under the purview of the RTI act, 2005. As regards to queries Sl No. 4 to 7, no information is available with EAM’s office,” the MEA said in its reply dated June 26 to the applicant from Haryana. The MEA said the application has been “transferred” to its Consular, Passport and Visa Division, the finance ministry and the home ministry.