Home Minister Kiren Rijiju defended India’s handling of its attempt to extradite businessman Vijay Mallya, as the case formed part of the discussions he held with counterparts in the U.K.
“We have done all the homework,” he said at a meeting here on Friday, adding that things in the case were “moving in the right direction.”
The defence has been challenging the admissibility of evidence including the use and format of 161 witness statements in the prosecution case, pointing to the use of “template” testimony. Mr. Rijiju said the defence lawyers were simply “raising issues to delay matters.”
‘Don’t link it to polls’
He insisted that the Mallya case was not a political or electoral issue, and that India recognised that it was now within the court system. “Don’t link this to elections. This is a legal matter and to link it with politics would be wrong,” he said.
However, he welcomed the proactive approach of the U.K. government which had resulted in the swift progression of the matter from India’s request for extradition earlier this year to it entering the judicial system. “I brought up the issue of extradition and thanked the British government for the positive assistance we are getting from them with cases that India is watching with great interest,” he said.
Responding to the testimony earlier in the case relating to prison facilities, India has offered the court an assurance that Mr. Mallya would have access to private medical care, sources said.
Extradition requests
During the discussions, he also raised other cases, including “Tiger” Mohammed Hanif Umerji Patel wanted over the 1993 blasts. He said there were 14 extradition cases pending for India in the U.K., while the U.K. was currently seeking the return of 12 individuals from India.
Mr. Rijiju also highlighted India’s concerns about anti-India activity in the U.K. — specifically related to Kashmir and “Sikh radicals.”
“The U.K. and India are both democratic nations…we have free speech but we should not allow each other’s territory to be used in a way that is detrimental to the security of each country.”
Britain raised the case of British national Jagtar Singh Johal, currently in custody in India, Mr. Rijiju said. However, India termed the allegations of torture “absolutely false”. Britain had to have faith in the Indian court system as India had in the British one, he said.
