New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on the UK to expedite the extradition of Indian economic offenders living in the country during a meeting with British premier Keir Starmer on the margins of the G20 summit in Brazil Monday.
“Prime Minister noted the importance of addressing the issue of economic offenders from India in the UK. The two leaders also agreed on the need to make progress on issues related to migration and mobility,” said the readout of the meeting published by the Ministry of External Affairs.
A number of Indian fugitives, including liquor baron Vijay Mallya and diamantaire Nirav Modi, have evaded justice by moving to the UK and are yet to be extradited.
Mallya, the former chairman of United Spirits and a former Member of Parliament, left India for the UK in 2016 following accusations of money laundering and fraud. He is estimated to owe Indian banks Rs 9,000 crore. He continues to fight extradition to India.
Similarly, Nirav Modi is wanted in India for a Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The former diamantaire was arrested by the UK in 2019, based on an extradition request filed by India. His appeals against extradition have since been dismissed by British courts, but he remains in the UK.
Another wanted fugitive is arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari, who was ordered to be extradited to India in 2022 by the then Conservative government. But earlier this year, British courts allowed him to appeal against extradition. All the above three are wanted as economic offenders in India.
The meeting was the first between the two leaders after Starmer moved into 10 Downing Street in July 2024, following a landslide victory by the Labour Party in UK’s parliamentary elections.
Modi is in Brazil on 18 November and 19 November to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit being held in Rio de Janeiro.
India, UK to resume FTA talks
Since January 2022, India and the UK have been in negotiations over an ambitious Free Trade Agreement (FTA). In April 2022, the then British prime minister Boris Johnson had declared a deal would be “completed” by Diwali during his two-day visit to India.
However, the two countries have celebrated another two Diwalis since then. After the 14th round of negotiations earlier this year, talks paused following the start of the Indian general elections in April 2024. The UK held its own elections in July, further delaying the resumption of talks.
“Both leaders underlined the importance of resuming the Free Trade Agreement negotiations at an early date and expressed confidence in the ability of the negotiating teams to address the remaining issues to mutual satisfaction, leading to a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward looking Free Trade Agreement,” the foreign ministry readout said.
Before the pause this year, negotiators were attempting to find a consensus regarding the demands by the UK for concessions in the automobile and liquor sectors, specifically Scotch whisky, while New Delhi demanded easier visas for citizens.
Starmer said that a FTA with India would be a “step forward” in delivering “growth” and bringing “prosperity” to the UK.
India has also announced the establishment of two new consulates—in Belfast, Northern Ireland and in Manchester. Other than its high commission in London, India currently maintains two consulates—in Birmingham and Edinburgh, Scotland—apart from two honorary consuls in Belfast and Cardiff in Wales.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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