‘We remain fully committed’: MEA says will bring back all ‘fugitives’; reaction comes after Lalit Modi mocks government | India News
NEW DELHI: India is committed to bring back all fugitives who are wanted here to face prosecution, ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Friday at a media briefing.He was replying to a question on the recent videos of fugitives Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya apparently mocking at Indian law enforcement agencies for their failure to get them deported 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.He said the delay (in the Mallya and other extradition cases) is because “in several of these cases there are several layers of legalities involved”. Jaiswal, however, reiterated that the government remained committed to bringing them back to the country so that they can face trial before courts here.Modi and Mallya are facing multiple money laundering charges in India and have taken refuge in London, refusing to return to face trial in cases against them.On Dec 16, Modi hosted a birthday bash at his London residence at Belgrave Square for his friend Mallya with Indian billionaire Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and others in attendance. Modi mocked the enforcement agencies with his “we’re the biggest fugitives” comment as he posed for a picture with Mallya and a woman guest.Two days later, ED announced it has restituted Rs 312 crore from the sale proceeds of Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines to its former employees towards their long-pending dues. The funds were released from earlier proceeds restituted by ED to SBI from sale of shares of Mallya’s company.Mallya has already lost his appeal against his extradition before the high court in London and has little chances of getting away. He had recently also filed a case in the Bombay high court challenging the constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. The high court rebuffed his plea asking him to furnish a timeline for his return to the country and that any such appeal cannot be heard in absentia.
