The United Kingdom yesterday said it was trying to resolve Vijay Mallya’s “confidential” legal matter as early as possible so that India’s request for his extradition can be acted upon.
British Acting High Commissioner Jan Thompson held a briefing where, replying to a question on the status of Mallya’s extradition, she said, “I think you are probably aware because we’ve said it a number of times, there is a further legal issue that needs resolving before we would be in a position to extradite Mr Mallya. Extradition can't take place unless that particular legal issue can be resolved…we are trying to resolve the issue as quickly as we can.”
Mallya has applied for asylum in the UK to escape an Indian prison term. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had said that New Delhi is engaged with London on the matter.
The envoy also said that the two sides have seen a positive momentum in ties which would be furthered with an in-person visit by British foreign secretary Dominic Raab to India in the coming months, followed by a visit by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“In 2021, the UK will assume the Presidency of the G7 (Group of Seven Industrialised nations) and will host COP 26 (Conference of Parties to the UN’s climate convention), while India will chair the BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa grouping) and begin its eighth term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," Johnson said.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Climate Ambition summit that will take place in December. India's foreign secretary Harsh Shringla was in London a few weeks ago as part of his European tour during which cooperation in the Indo Pacific was discussed.
