Former IPL chief Lalit Modi's lawyer on Monday termed the entire issue involving External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj a "political jamboree" intended to "destabilise the government which is so far free of any scars or scams".
He said Sushma Swaraj lived up to her duty by helping an Indian in trouble, in this case Lalit Modi, to get travel documents to travel to Portugal on humanitarian grounds.
Addressing the media on behalf of Lalit Modi, lawyer Mehmood M. Abdi said the "non-issue is being blown out of proportion by the media", which is calling Modi an offender and criminal.
"No proceedings in any court of law has declared him an offender or a fugitive. He is staying in London with the full knowledge of and complying with UK laws," Abdi said here on behalf of Modi who is facing investigation in India.
Defending his client, Abdi said some sections of the media were alleging that Interpol blue corner notice was issued against Modi as he was a fugitive.
"In fact, we have got a written statement from Interpol saying it has not issued any such notice, nor is there any information (on Modi) in any files originating from India," Abdi said.
He said the so-called CBI notice were based on fabricated documents, which he declined to dwell in detail.
The Congress and some other opposition parties on Monday demanded Sushma Swaraj's resignation for helping Modi.
Sushma Swaraj has said she helped Modi, who has been staying in London since 2010 following allegations of financial impropriety, after he approached her last July, saying his wife was suffering from cancer and was to undergo surgery in Portugal.
Abdi said Sushma Swaraj had "lived up to her duty for an Indian in trouble".
The lawyer also accused the Congress of "hounding" Modi and "losing its sense of balance", saying the party sought to compare Modi to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala had said on Sunday that Sushma Swaraj's intervention in the case was a "clear cut case of gross impropriety".
Surjewala had asked whether the government would extend help to Dawood Ibrahim.
Abdi said when Modi first sought permission to live in Britain, the Home Office declined permission.
Later, he approached the first tribunal which allowed him to live in that country and it recorded the circumstances behind its decision, Abdi said, waving documents to the media present at the conference.
Responding to the Abdi's briefing from London, Modi tweeted his warning: "Wait and watch... The battle has begun now... All who have not researched their stories and put on air, I am coming after all..."
Earlier, he said: "In war, there are no winners, I know... But I can assure u I will still be standing... The games have just begun... Lastly, before I board another flight to another beautiful destination. This is war. So bring it on. I choose to lose a battle to win a war."
Abdi cited RTI replies of June 2010 from police in Mumbai pointing at threats to Modi for which he was accorded security, which was later withdrawn.
"Police have said in the RTI replies that mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar's associate was keeping close tabs on Lalit Modi's movements in India and abroad and recommended a security cover.
"But it is wrong on the part of the media to compare Modi with Dawood... there is absolutely no comparison, the proportions are different and they are wrong," Abdi said.
Speaking on the passport row concerning Modi, he said the entire case was argued and the passport was revoked during the UPA regime.
"It is a fact that his wife is suffering from cancer since past 17 years... and this is said by a top medico... People who have a raja (king), jamai raja (son-in-law) are talking of impropriety... The media has been tarnishing his image," he said.
