A word war began between former IPL chief Lalit Modi, accused of financial irregularities in India, and the Congress on Thursday, with the former launching a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi. This was in response to an acidic attack from the Congress which had called Modi a “fugitive of justice.”

The Congress on Thursday used Lalit Modi’s tweets threatening to take Rahul Gandhi to court to attack the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying that “global scamsters” were now coming to the defence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reacting to Lalit Modi’s remarks, Congress general secretary in-charge organisation KC Venugopal said, “Lalit Modi is a fugitive in multi-million dollar frauds whose cowardice made him run away. He now enjoys a plush life abroad thanks to BJP’s inaction. It’s laughable if he thinks anyone takes him seriously.”

"A new low for PM Modi, that global scamsters are coming to his defence," Venugopal said. Taking a dig at the BJP, Congress' media and publicity department chief Pawan Khera said, "Is now Saheb taking help from abroad to threaten Rahulji with legal action?"

He went on to say, "Will pressure be put on Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vijay Mallya, etc.? To file a case against Rahul Gandhi?" The Opposition party has been attacking the BJP for allegedly allowing economic offenders such as Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Mehul Choksi get away and flee abroad with people's money. In a series of tweets, Lalit Modi said, "I see just about every Tom, Dick and Gandhi associates again and again saying I am a fugitive of justice. Why? How? and when was I...Convicted of same."

"Unlike #Papu aka @RahulGandhi now an ordinary citizen saying it and it seems one and all opposition leaders have nothing else to do so they too are either ill- informed or just vendetta prone.

I have decided to take the @RahulGandhi...To court in UK right away. I am sure he will have to come up with some solid evidence. I look forward to seeing him make a complete fool of himself," he tweeted.