Indian Government Pushes for Vijay Mallya’s Extradition
India has been actively pursuing the extradition of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya from the UK, where he is currently believed to be residing. The Indian government has pushed for his extradition without any preconditions, seeking cooperation from countries like France, where Mallya holds properties and extradition treaties exist.
Joint Efforts with France
During the 16th meeting of the India-France Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, Indian officials urged France to approve the extradition proposal without any preconditions. This strategic move aims to facilitate Mallya’s extradition if he travels to any of the countries where India has been actively pursuing legal actions against him.
Legal Troubles and Allegations
Vijay Mallya is facing legal troubles related to financial mismanagement, loan defaults, and allegations of fraud and money laundering, stemming from a bank loan default case exceeding Rs 9,000 crore linked to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has accused Mallya of acquiring personal assets abroad while his airline faced financial turmoil in India.
Recent Developments
In 2020, French authorities seized Mallya’s property in France valued at nearly Rs 14 crore. Despite exhausting legal avenues to avoid extradition to India, Mallya sought asylum in the UK on “humanitarian grounds” in April 2020. The UK Home Department is yet to make a decision on his asylum request.
Joint Efforts and Legal Proceedings
The India-France Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism addressed various counter-terrorism issues, including mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) requests related to cases of money laundering and terror financing, which also encompassed Mallya’s case. The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary (CT) KD Dewal, while the French delegation was headed by Ambassador Olivier Caron, Special Envoy for Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime.