MEA Refuses to Share Extradition Details of Mallya, Nirav Modi
In a reply to an RTI query, it said requests for extradition of Mallya and Modi have been sent to the UK government.
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has refused to share details on the extradition of fugitive businessmen Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, citing an RTI clause that bars disclosure of information which would “impede the process of prosecution of offenders.”
In a reply to an RTI query, it said requests for extradition of Mallya and Modi have been sent to the UK government.
Embattled liquor tycoon Mallya is out on bail in the UK. The former Kingfisher Airlines' boss is wanted in India to face charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to Rs 9,000 crore.
India's request to extradite Mallya was approved by UK home secretary in February this year.
He has appealed against his extradition order, a hearing for which is now scheduled in the UK High Court on 2 July.
Fugitive diamontaire Nirav Modi is also contesting extradition proceedings in London.
He has been denied bail for the third time in his extradition case to India to face charges in the Punjab National Bank fraud and money laundering case amounting to up to USD 2 billion and will continue to be lodged in a London jail described by his lawyers as "unliveable".
India's investigating agencies – the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) – are looking into these high profile corruption cases involving Mallya and Modi.
In a reply to another RTI query, the Ministry of External Affairs said 132 extradition requests were forwarded to foreign governments in the last four years.
"Details may not be provided under Section 8 (1) (h) of RTI Act," it said, when asked to provide details of offenders and copy of communications to the foreign governments.
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