Lalit Modi extradition: British govt lukewarm

LONDON: The British government appears to have failed to respond to India's request to extradite the former commissioner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi to India, where he is wanted for questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of the Union finance ministry for 14 alleged contraventions of the 1999 Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
A statement issued to TOI by the Indian high commission in the United Kingdom said: "Modi's presence is required in India by the agency concerned.His refusal to comply is also a violation of the Indian Penal Code." The spokesperson added: "Modi is residing in the UK without valid documents and therefore his stay in this country is not legal." All this and more was conveyed to the British foreign office earlier this month, but this does not seem to have elicited any action.
The high commission communicated to the foreign office that Modi's passport had been revoked and that even his appeal against this confiscation "has been disallowed". The Indian mission also brought to Whitehall's notice the various charges against him and the fact that he is wanted in India for interrogation by the enforcement directorate.
A spokesman for the British home office said: "We don't comment on individual cases on extradition matters until a person has been arrested." Clearly, Modi has not been detained; and therefore, London is yet to act on New Delhi's request. India also refuted claims made by Modi in a recent statement issued by him through a PR agent. "I remain a legal resident in England," he had maintained. The Indian high commission has now categorically stated his residence in the UK "is not legal".
Both the home office and the foreign office were asked by TOI if Modi had been granted British nationality under a new rule introduced by the present Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government, which automatically permits this if a person deposits £10 million in the UK. There was no comment from either.