Justice delayed, extradition denied Indian fugitives thriving in UK

Recovering dues from fugitives is progress but justice demands swift extradition and accountability

- S MURLIDHARAN

On December 17, while replying to a debate on the first batch of Supplementary Demands for grants in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that ₹14,131.6 crore worth of properties belonging to fugitive Vijay Mallya had been restored to public sector banks. This recovery, made possible through the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, is a feather in the Modi government's cap. However, the inability to enforce extradition orders against fugitives like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi casts a shadow over India's extradition process with the UK.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Mallya bristled with feigned indignation, questioning how authorities dared recover twice the dues. What he conveniently ignores is that, like any moneylender, banks charge interest on unpaid dues—compounding over time to blunt defaulters. Yet, recovering dues, while laudable, is only half the battle won. The government must pursue the extradition of economic offenders to uphold the integrity of justice.