In wake of the growing controversy over former IPL chairman Lalit Modi's visa, a statement by his wife in a UK tribunal made last year was released today. Below are excerpts from the affidavit in which Minal Modi requested for travel documents for her husband to accompany her to Portugal for her cancer treatment.

"For the last 17 years I have been treated for metastatic cancer. For the most part, I have been under the care of a Professor Slamon at UCLA, in the US. I was under his care from 1997. My condition has required constant attention. I have been in remission for much of the time, but currently my cancer is again active.

After being under Professor Slamon for 15 years without defeating the cancer, I decided to turn to an alternative approach offered by Professor Carlo Greco at the Champalimaud Centre in Lisbon. This was in 2012.

Professor Carlo Greco is a Professor of Radiation Oncology and the Director of Clinical Research at the Centre. The Centre is a translational medical research facility.During the time that my husband's application for a Certificate of Travel has been under consideration, I have attended the Centre in Lisbon for tests and checks.

There were indications that the cancer was becoming active again.Of necessity, I had to attend without Lalit, though I would dearly have wanted him to be there with me. Most recently, I was there on 14 July, without him, when I was told that the cancer is back and is life-threatening. The only really viable option is surgery of one kind or another. An operation at the Centre, using the Centre's techniques, has been fixed for 4 August.Professor Carlo Greco in letter (dated 14 July) said that before the operation he needs to "thoroughly assess the risk/benefit ratio of the treatment options with the patient and her next of kin before a final decision is made'.

As I have said, though, the only viable option is the surgery that has been scheduled for 4 August. The discussion ahead of that will focus on the risks and the corresponding decisions that may need to be made during the surgery.

The surgery was delayed until August 4 because we wanted to give as much time as possible for Lalit's travel issues to be resolved, because of the importance of his attendance. The surgery cannot take place any later than 4 August because Professor Greco is on holiday from 5 August and to delay until he returns would be an unacceptable risk to my health.It is my very deeply felt wish for my husband to be with me when I return to Portugal for the pre-surgery consultation and the surgery itself. I am aware that there are major hurdles to overcome: getting a travel document from the Home Office and getting permission from the Portuguese authorities to admit Lalit on that document.I know that Lalit is doing everything he possibly can to resolve these problems and I am grateful to him for that. I am making this witness statement to support his efforts regarding a Home Office Certificate of Travel. I implore the Secretary of State: please issue Lalit with a travel document.

I am told it is not in dispute that you have the discretion to do so. I will need the comfort of my husband, and I will also need him to make decisions on my behalf during the surgery (and maybe at other times, if I feel incapable of doing so myself).It is hard to describe the comfort I would derive from having Lalit with me.

Due to my medical condition I value my family life more than ever and I spend every spare minute I have with my family members. Family life is not just to be enjoyed, but cherished, and I cherish every moment.

My medical condition has affected my family heavily and we need to support each other. In particular, I need their support -- and Lalit's support most of all. Lalit and I have been married for well over 20 years and have stood by each other through thick and thin. I need him now, more than ever."