UK assures India of full cooperation in bringing to book any fugitive

New Delhi, June 12: The United Kingdom has assured India of full co-operation towards bringing to book anybody whether it is Vijay Mallya or Nirav Modi who is wanted in India by Indian courts or agencies.

 

This was stated by MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju on Monday after his meeting with UK Minister of state for counterterrorism Baroness Williams.

Rijiju said that he had a very fruitful meeting with UK Minister. He said that the UK Minister had told him that Britain should not be viewed as a safe haven for men wanted by the law of the other country for various offenses.

While underlining the need for cooperation in fighting international terrorism, Rijiju said terrorism cannot be viewed with a prismatic view and urged the UK Minister to check anti-India activities on its soil. Baroness Williams assured cooperation of the highest level on this issue. Raising the issue of fugitive tycoons wanted by New Delhi for frauds and financial misappropriations, Rijiju said Britain should not be viewed as a safe haven for men wanted by the law of the other country for various offenses. He said while India respects the courts and will pursue the legal procedures in Britain to bring back wanted men, New Delhi expects the cooperation of the UK Government. Allaying concerns over prison conditions in India, Rijiju said there are absolute safeguards against Human Rights violations in Indian prisons.

Baroness Williams said the issue of extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya is progressing through appropriate legal channels.

 

In a statement, the Home Ministry said the bilateral discussions covered a variety of important issues ranging from cooperation in matters of migration, tackling extremism, extradition, sharing of criminal records etc.

In response to the UK Minister’s request for facilitating repatriation of illegal migrants, Shri Rijiju said that while the issue of timeframes is important, Government would like to reassure itself about the completion of verification before repatriation process begins. Shri Rijiju also lauded the cooperation of the UK Government on various international forums.