UK nod for Vijay Mallya extradition, judicial process may delay it

The UK on Tuesday assured New Delhi to expedite all pending requests for extradition, including that of liquor baron Vijay Mallya. Mallya is wanted in India for charges of money laundering and defaulting on bank loans.

Sources said that while the UK was ‘very positive’ on India’s request, it said that it will take time as it entails a judicial process. On Monday, the Home Ministry forwarded a court-issued request to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to bring back Mallya to face money laundering probe. In a communication to the MEA, the Home Ministry provided details of the Mumbai special court order which approved the Enforcement Directorate’s request to invoke the India-UK Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. 

Other fugitives who have taken refuge in the UK include Lalit Modi and Tiger Hanif. Absconding business tycoon Lalit Modi, who left country in 2010 with allegations of tax evasion, money-laundering and proxy ownership linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL), has refused to return to the country, citing death threats from the underworld. Hanif was wanted in connection with the 1993 blasts in Surat.