A high-powered team comprising officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is set to visit the United Kingdom, aiming to accelerate the extradition process for India’s most-wanted fugitives. The team seeks to overcome longstanding obstacles and gather crucial information on the assets held by fugitives in London.
The primary focus of the team is on three high-profile individuals: arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, diamond trader Nirav Modi, and Kingfisher Airlines promoter Vijay Mallya. All three are currently facing extradition cases in the UK and have appealed against their return to India.
The team’s strategy involves bilateral discussions with UK authorities to expedite pending extradition cases, utilizing the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) signed by both countries, which mandates the sharing of information on criminal investigations.
Additionally, the NIA aims to collect vital information on suspected terror links of individuals associated with the Khalistani movement believed to be operating from the UK.
While the Union Home Ministry oversees MLAT matters, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is leading diplomatic efforts. The joint team, facilitated by the Indian High Commission, may include a senior MEA official for crucial London meetings.
Apart from pushing for extradition, the team intends to gather details on the fugitives’ financial activities in the UK, including bank transactions and suspected asset acquisitions, to identify and seize potential “proceeds of crime.”
The extradition cases of Bhandari, Modi, and Mallya are currently stalled in UK courts due to appeals. Nevertheless, the ED has seized significant assets in India, compensating defrauded banks with funds running into thousands of crores.
Bhandari, associated with corrupt defence deals, fled India in 2016 and is linked to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi’s husband Robert Vadra. Nirav Modi faces charges of defrauding Punjab National Bank of over Rs 6, 500 crore, while Mallya’s assets exceeding Rs 5,000 crore have been attached for bank loan defaults. The ED is investigating Bhandari, Vadra associate CC Thampi, and Vadra for alleged kickbacks in defense deals, having attached Bhandari’s Indian properties worth over Rs 26 crore. Bhandari, like Mallya and Modi, has been declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court.
(Inputs from ANI)