UK may link extradition of Nirav Modi, Mallya with illegal migrant pact

New Delhi: The UK may link the extradition process of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi and liquor baron Vijay Mallya with the signing of a much-delayed agreement that will facilitate deportation of over 75,000 Indians who are allegedly illegally staying there, officials said on Tuesday.

The issue of the final signing of the memorandum of understanding on illegal immigrants was raised by UK minister of state for countering extremism Baroness Williams during her talks with Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju here on Monday.

During the hour-long talks, Williams stressed the need for formal signing of the MoU to enable the return of illegal Indian migrants within a month of their detection by the British authorities, an official privy to the development said.

The Indian side raised the issue of extradition of Nirav Modi, Mallya and others to face law here. “We afraid they may link the process of extradition of Nirav, Mallya and others with the signing of the MoU,” the official said.

New Delhi is concerned that a large number of Indians can be sent back without any humanitarian considerations.