By Smritika Banerjee
Ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal at a media briefing stated that, all the fugitives who are wanted to face prosecution, India is committed to bring back all of them.
While replying to a recent video-related question, in which the fugitives Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya were apparently mocking the Indian law enforcement agencies for being unable to deport them from London.
“We remain fully committed that people who are fugitives and who are wanted by law in India, return to the country. For this particular return, we are in talks with several governments, and processes are on,” Jaiswal said.
After facing multiple charges of money laundering in India, Modi and Mallya have taken refuge in London, and they have refused to return to face trials in cases against them.
A party was hosted for Mallya by Modi at his London residence at Belgrave Square, along with Indian billionaire Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and others in residence.
As Modi posed for a picture with Mallya and a female guest, he mocked the enforcement agencies with his comment, stating, “We are the biggest fugitives.”
Rs 312 crore has been restituted from the sale proceeds of Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines to its former employees over their long-pending dues, has been announced by ED. ED compensated
to SBI the funds that were released from earlier proceedings from Mallya’s company’s share sales.
Mallya has very less chances of getting away after losing his appeal before the London High Court against his extradition. A recent case in the Bombay High Court was also filed by him, challenging the constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. His plea has been rebuffed by the high court, asking him to furnish a timeline for his return to the country, and such an appeal cannot be heard in his absence.