In a ground breaking development, it has been reported by several media outlets that the UK has approved Vijay Mallya’s extradition. The UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid has reportedly signed the order to extradited Vijay Mallya. As per WION news, the UK Home Office has confirmed that having carefully considered the matter, the UK home secretary has signed the order for Mallya’s extradition. This is one of the biggest breakthroughs for the incumbent Modi government and is going to make a major impact given that the Lok Sabha polls are around the corner. Mallya is accused of fraud, money laundering and violating the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The fact that he is finally going to be extradited stands testimony to the tireless efforts made by the Modi government. A court in the UK had ordered his extradition to India on December 9, 2018. This order had come after a nine-month-long trial which ended in September. Mallya had been arrested on an extradition warrant in April 2017. However, he has been on bail ever since his arrest. India has been seeking his extradition on allegations of fraud to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had welcomed that order and had also taken a dig at the Congress. He had tweeted, “Great Day for India. No one who cheats India will go scot free. The Judgement of UK’s Court is welcome. An offender benefited during the UPA. The NDA brings him to book.”
The Modi government has been instrumental for quite some time. 2018 had proved to be a rough year for Mallya. Last year, a United Kingdom court had granted permission to the UK High Court Enforcement Officer to enter Vijay Mallya’s properties in Hertfordshire, near London. The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, were permitted to enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn and Bramble Lodge, to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya). Further, the High Court had also granted permission to the Enforcement Officer, including any Enforcement Agent acting under his authority, to use reasonable force to enter the properties if necessary.
Modi government had dealt severe blows to Vijay Mallya in the past too. But by successfully getting his extradition approved, the Modi government has proved that it is worth its salt. This ground breaking development shows that Modi government has delivered in a big way as far as achieving what it had been elected for is concerned.