3 min readNew DelhiAug 27, 2015 04:17 AM IST
First published on: Aug 27, 2015 at 02:33 AM IST
Ronald K Noble, Lalit
ModiA fresh set of emails of former Indian Premier League (IPL) czar Lalit Modi reveal his association with former Interpol chief Robert Noble. The Indian Express has reviewed a copy of the emails purportedly exchanged during January 21-26, 2014, between Modi, Noble and his brother James L Noble Jr. regarding a $365,000-worth property in Strafford County in United States.
Noble was Interpol Secretary General from 2000 to November 2014 and the Indian government didn’t approach Interpol for assistance in bringing Modi back from London, where he is residing since 2010 pending investigations in India.
The Opposition paralysed the recently concluded Parliament session protesting against the intervention of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in helping him get travel papers.
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An email, written by James Noble to Modi, dated January 26, 2014, reads: “Lalit, you cannot imagine how excited the Noble family is and how blessed we feel to have an incredible friend such as you!!! In my wildest dreams I could not let myself imagine living in a home such as this and it is all because of your tender heart.”
The same day Lalit Modi wrote back: “This is great news. Look forward to speaking tomorrow”. Modi marked a copy of his response to Ronald Noble. There are three emails on the subject that all three have shared.
Asked by The Indian Express whether this exchange raised questions of conflict of interest, Ronald Noble said: “There never could have been a conflict of interest. My brother has never had anything to do with Interpol and that Modi was never of interest to Interpol.”
Ronald Noble added: “Despite there being no conflict of interest and despite there being no legitimate newsworthiness to the story, my brother has authorized me to say the following regarding his business transaction with Mr Lalit Modi: In 2014, Mr Lalit Modi and my brother entered into a joint business venture concerning a $365,000 property located in the US. Under the agreement, Mr Modi would purchase the property and my brother would manage as well as maintain it at his own expenses while not having any ownership interest or right to the property. Once the property is sold, the profit would be shared equally between Mr Lalit Modi and my brother.”
Modi did not respond to text messages.
Ronald K Noble, Lalit
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