M'rashtra seeks details from top cop over meeting Modi

A day after former IPL boss Lalit Modi’s photo with Mumbai Police commissioner Rakesh Maria appeared in media, the Maharashtra government on Sunday sought the details of the July 2014 meeting of the two in London. 

On Saturday, Maria, an officer of the rank of Additional Director General of Police, who has handled and supervised investigations of several important cases, has issued a written statement clarifying that he had met Modi when he was in London.

The latter has sought security for him and his family. “We have asked Rakesh Maria to give information about the meeting and what he had told the media. Based on it, we would decide the further course of action,” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, said. 

The Maharashtra government has decided not to act hastily and would wait for Maria’s response. “Let the information come to us,” the chief minister said.This is one of the first major controversies that Maria is facing. He has investigated several important cases like the March 12, 1993 serial blasts case, 26/11 terror attacks and the blasts by India Mujahideen. 

“As per the lawyer’s insistence, we met albeit briefly wherein Modi sought the Mumbai Police’s help as he and his family was being threatened by the underworld,” he said, adding that he had categorically informed Modi that the Mumbai Police has no jurisdiction in London and that he should return to Mumbai to lodge a formal complaint. 

Lalit Modi kept requesting for Mumbai Police protection. I reiterated Modi and his lawyer that it was imperative for Lalit Modi to return to Mumbai for the Mumbai Police to initiate any inquiry. Thereafter, the meeting which lasted for 15 to 20 minutes, concluded,” Maria had stated, adding that he had informed the then Home Minister late R R Patil about the meeting.