The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has once again asserted India's unwavering determination to bring back economic fugitives, specifically naming Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya. This strong statement came on Friday as a direct reaction to a recently surfaced video showing the two wanted men celebrating together in London.
MEA's Firm Stance on Fugitive Returns
Addressing the media during the weekly briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal left no room for ambiguity regarding the government's position. He confirmed that India remains fully committed to ensuring individuals who are fugitives and wanted by Indian law return to face justice. Jaiswal explained that for this specific objective, the government is engaged in continuous talks with several foreign governments, and the necessary legal and diplomatic processes are actively underway.
"We remain fully committed that people who are fugitive and are wanted by law in India, they return to the country. For this particular return, we are in talks with several governments, and processes are on," Jaiswal stated clearly. He acknowledged the complex legal hurdles involved but reinforced the resolve. "As you know, in several of these cases, several layers of legalities are involved. But we remain committed to bring them back to the country so they can face trials before the court here," he added.
The Provocative London Celebration
The MEA's remarks were prompted by a video shared by Lalit Modi himself on Instagram. The clip was from the lavish 70th birthday celebrations of Vijay Mallya, held in London. In a brazen move, Modi, in the video, referred to himself and Mallya as the "two biggest fugitives from India." The caption accompanying the post read, "Let me do something to break the internet again. Happy birthday my friend #VijayMallya. Love u."
The party was hosted by Lalit Modi at his luxurious six-bedroom residence located in Belgrave Square, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United Kingdom. Reports indicate that several associates of Vijay Mallya travelled all the way from India specifically to attend this celebration.
Who Are The Fugitives?
Vijay Mallya, who turned 70 on December 18, is the former owner of the defunct Kingfisher Airlines and previously owned the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He fled to the UK in 2016 after numerous cases were filed against him concerning alleged financial irregularities and massive loan defaults amounting to thousands of crores of rupees.
Lalit Modi, a former cricket administrator and the founding chairman of the IPL, left India in 2010. His departure coincided with investigations launched into allegations of financial misconduct and irregularities during the initial seasons of the lucrative cricket league.
The public appearance and social media post by the two fugitives have drawn sharp reactions in India, putting the spotlight back on the protracted legal efforts to secure their extradition. The Indian government's latest statement underscores its ongoing diplomatic and legal pursuit, despite the complex international jurisprudence involved in such high-profile cases.
