In Video| Mallya, Lalit Modi call themselves ‘India’s biggest fugitives’:Bombay High Court questions Vijay Mallya on his return to India

A video showing fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya celebrating his birthday in London has surfaced on social media. The video was shared by fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, in which Lalit Modi is heard referring to himself and Mallya as “India’s two biggest fugitives.” While posting the video, Nirav Modi wrote, “Let me shake up the internet again. Especially for you media people. Keep watching with jealousy.” Following the video’s circulation, several social media users questioned the role of Indian investigative agencies and the government in bringing fugitive economic offenders back to the country. Bombay High Court questions Mallya Amid the controversy, the Bombay High Court on Monday asked Vijay Mallya when he would return to India, stating that his petitions would not be heard unless he appeared before the court and submitted to its jurisdiction. Mallya has challenged both the order declaring him a fugitive economic offender and the constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018. ED opposes challenge from abroad A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Arif S. Doctor heard the matter. Representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that a person living abroad should not be allowed to challenge Indian law while avoiding the jurisdiction of Indian courts. He told the court that Mallya’s extradition process is in its final stage. Mallya’s counsel submitted that banks have largely recovered their financial dues. However, the court observed that criminal liability cannot be extinguished without the accused appearing before the court. Also Read| 15 fugitive offenders defrauded ₹58,000 cr from banks Background Vijay Mallya has been residing in the United Kingdom since 2016 and was declared a fugitive economic offender in 2019. Lalit Modi has been living abroad since 2010 and faces multiple charges related to tax evasion, money laundering and alleged irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Also Read| Ex-IPL boss Lalit Modi surrenders Indian passport Nirav Modi extradition update Earlier, on December 16, fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi filed a fresh appeal in a London court seeking a stay on his extradition to India. Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are present in London and assisting the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in opposing his plea. Nirav Modi has been declared a fugitive economic offender in India and is wanted in connection with the ₹6,498-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. A UK court has already approved his extradition to India.