'Fugitives will be brought back': India after Lalit Modi–Vijay Mallya taunt video sparks criticism

In an Instagram post shared earlier this week and later deleted, Modi posted a video featuring himself and Mallya, captioning it with what appeared to be a taunt.

In the clip, Lalit Modi can be heard saying, “We are the two fugitives, the biggest fugitives of India.” The caption read, “Let me do something to break the internet down again… Watch your heart out with envy (sic).”

The post triggered criticism of the Indian government’s efforts to extradite the two men, both of whom are based in the United Kingdom and have frequently shared images of their lifestyles abroad on social media.

Asked about the post, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government is actively pursuing the return of fugitives. “We remain fully committed that people who are fugitives, who are wanted by law in India, return to the country. For this purpose, we are in talks with several governments and processes are ongoing,” he said.

Jaiswal acknowledged that extradition cases often involve complex legal procedures. “In several of these cases, there are multiple layers of legalities involved. But we remain committed to bringing them back so that they can face trial before the courts here,” he added.

Lalit Modi, 62, left India in 2010 following allegations of tax evasion, money laundering and financial irregularities linked to the Indian Premier League, which he helped establish. He was declared a fugitive economic offender in 2019.

Vijay Mallya, 69, the former chairman of United Breweries and promoter of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, fled India in 2016 amid allegations of fraud and loan defaults. He was also declared a fugitive economic offender in 2019 and is accused of owing Indian banks around ₹9,000 crore.