India breaks silence after viral video brands Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya ‘biggest fugitives’

The government on Friday said it remains committed to bringing back Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, days after a video of the two fugitives went viral in which they appeared to mock Indian authorities by calling themselves “the biggest fugitives of India”.

Responding to questions on the video, the Ministry of External Affairs said delays in extradition were due to complex legal processes involving multiple jurisdictions. “We are committed to bringing back fugitives. We are in touch with the countries concerned and the processes are ongoing. These cases involve several layers of legal procedures,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

Video triggers backlash

The controversy erupted after Lalit Modi, the former IPL chief, posted a video on Instagram from a birthday party he hosted for Vijay Mallya, who turned 70 on December 18. The event was reportedly held at Modi’s residence in London’s Belgrave Square.

In the video, Modi is heard saying, “We are the two fugitives, the biggest fugitives of India,” as Mallya laughs alongside him. The caption accompanying the post read, “Let me do something to break the internet down again,” drawing sharp criticism online.

Mallya, declared a fugitive economic offender in January 2019, was seen at the party with his partner Pinky Lalwani, a former Kingfisher Airlines air hostess. He has been married twice previously and has a son, Siddharth Mallya, from his first marriage.

The video was widely viewed as a public taunt at the Indian government, which has been seeking the extradition of both men for several years. Lalit Modi left India in 2010, while Mallya fled the country in 2016.

Once known as the ‘King of Good Times’, Mallya is wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering linked to loans exceeding Rs 9,000 crore taken by the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. He is currently out on bail in the UK and has applied for asylum.

Lalit Modi, founder and first chairman of the Indian Premier League, is accused of financial misconduct and irregularities during the tournament’s early years. A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him in 2015.