In recent news, the government notified Parliament that Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Nitin and Chetan Sandesara, Lalit Modi and European middlemen Guido Ralph Haschke and Carlo Gerosa are among 58 economic wrongdoers living abroad who are being pushed out through lookout circulars (LoCs), Interpol red notices and extradition requests, says a Times of India report.
The government and investigation agencies, along with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), are now pursuing at least 16 extradition requests in the UAE, the UK, Belgium, Egypt, the US, and Antigua and Barbuda.
Not just that, the government has also sent new requests for the extradition of two VVIP chopper scam middlemen, Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa, to Italy in October, the Ministry of External Affairs told in a reply in the Lok Sabha. Their interrogation by the investigating agencies is significant to join the missing link in the Rs 3,600 crore scam.
Also read: Diplomatic win for Modi Govt, Vijay Mallya soon to be brought back to India
The ministry notified the House that the extradition requests for both Gerosa and Haschke had been sent in November 2017 and January 2018 but were returned by the Italian authorities.
The CBI has already extradited Christian Miche who is one of the three middlemen is accused in the case, from the UAE this month. The reason why he is accused is that he received about Rs 225 crore from the UK-based helicopter manufacturing company AgustaWestland to power the deal in its favour. His connection in the 12 VVIP helicopter deal came to light in 2012 when he was accused of turning the deal in favour of the company and also making illegal payments to Indian officials.
Last week, the Interpol, on the appeal of the CBI, had also issued a Red Corner Notice against escaping billionaire Mehul Choksi, including Nirav Modi who is accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank of around Rs 13,700 crore. Choksi, Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems Ltd, had escaped India in January along with Nirav Modi, his wife Ami Modi and brother Nishal Modi.
As far as Nirav Modi’s case is concerned, the government has issued 2 separate extradition requests to the UK in August, while separate extradition requests had been sent to the UAE against him, his brother Nishal and close assistant Subhash Parab, the MEA said in its reply.