Efforts to extradite fugitive economic offenders Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi from the United Kingdom have picked up pace after a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) team inspected Delhi’s Tihar Jail last week, officials confirmed on Sunday.
The UK delegation visited the high-security ward to assess prison conditions, a key legal requirement before British courts decide on extradition pleas. Jail authorities assured the team that, if needed, a separate enclave could be created for high-profile inmates to ensure safety and compliance with international standards.
India has long pressed for the return of fugitives facing charges ranging from massive bank fraud to arms smuggling. British courts have previously denied extraditions citing concerns about prison conditions, prompting New Delhi to provide fresh assurances that rights of the accused will be protected with no scope for mistreatment.
Mallya, accused in loan default cases exceeding ₹9,000 crore, has been residing in the UK while contesting extradition. Nirav Modi, the key accused in the ₹13,800 crore Punjab National Bank scam, was arrested in London in 2019. His extradition was cleared by a UK court, though his appeals remain pending.
