Tihar jail good enough for fugitives Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya? British officials tour prison to assess 'facilities'

A team of officials representing the Crown Prosecution Service in the United Kingdom visited Tihar jail recently to assess whether the prison conditions were good enough to host Indian fugitives Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya. India has been pressing the UK for the extradition of the duo for economic offences. 

The visit suggests India's steps to bring back these high-profile offenders are gaining momentum. According to Tihar jail authorities, British officials visited the prison last week to check whether the prison conditions satisfied legal requirements laid down by the UK courts before deciding on extradition pleas. 

According to prison officials,  the delegation from CPS toured the high-security ward of Tihar and also interacted with some inmates. Jail authorities conveyed that if needed, a separate enclave could be created within the premises to house high-profile accused, ensuring their safety and compliance with international standards.

UK courts in the past have turned down extradition requests from India, citing prison conditions. The Centre has assured UK courts that rights of the accused will be safeguarded, with no scope for illegal interrogation or mistreatment.

Mallya, facing loan default charges of over Rs 9,000 crore, has been residing in the UK and is contesting extradition. 

Nirav Modi, prime accused in the Rs 13,800 crore Punjab National Bank scam, was declared a fugitive offender in 2019 and was arrested in the UK the same year. His extradition has already been cleared by a London court, though appeals remain pending. India has been pressing hard for the return of several fugitives wanted in cases ranging from bank fraud to arms smuggling.