'Want them taken back to India': British PM Boris Johnson on Vijaya Mallya, Nirav Modi extradition

On being asked about the extradition of Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya at a press conference, Johnson, who is visiting India, said the UK government wants them to be taken back for trial.

He further said that the UK does not welcome people who want to use the British legal system to evade the law here in India.

"On the two individuals that you mentioned, the extradition case, there are legal technicalities that made it very difficult. But what I can tell you is that the UK government has ordered their extradition," Boris Johnson at the press conference.

"We have said from our point of view we want them to be taken back to India for trial, perhaps I should just say, we welcome people, who have talent and brilliance coming from India coming to the UK, we don't welcome people who want to use our legal system to evade the law here in India," he added.

Earlier in the day, addressing a special press briefing on the British PM's visit, Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla said the issue of these fugitives' extradition was taken up during talks with Johnson.

The Indian government has conveyed that the extradition of these offenders is a high priority as they need to be back to face India's justice system.

He also said Prime Minister Johnson took note of the same and indicated that he was very sensitive to Indian concerns in this regard.

Vijay Mallya, who owned the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, has been accused of committing fraud and laundering nearly Rs 9,000 crore, which he took in loans from different PSU banks, with no intention to return.

Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are the prime accused in the Rs 13,600-crore Punjab National Bank scam involving fake guarantees in the name of the state-run lender to secure loans overseas.