When will ‘fugitive couple’ Lalit-Mallya, who is enjoying in London, return to India? Foreign Ministry gave this answer

New Delhi: The issue of bringing fugitive businessmen Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya back to India is once again in discussion. This issue again came into limelight after a video surfaced recently, in which both were seen calling themselves the biggest fugitives of India. On this, the Ministry of External Affairs was asked why there is so much delay in bringing these two to India and what steps is the government taking in this direction.

What did the Ministry of External Affairs say on the journalist’s question?

During the press briefing, a journalist asked Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal that from the video shared by Lalit Modi, it seemed that he was deliberately provoking Indian agencies. The question was also whether there is any laxity on the part of the investigating agencies or whether the case is stuck due to some reason.

Government’s commitment reiterated

In response to this question, Randhir Jaiswal clearly said that the Government of India is fully committed to bringing back all the fugitives. He said that the government is making continuous efforts to bring back to India those who are hiding in foreign countries after running away from Indian law. In this process, negotiations and legal processes are going on with many countries. He also made it clear that the government is neither lax nor indifferent in this matter.

complexity of the legal process

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, bringing back a fugitive is not just a country’s decision, but international law, extradition treaties and local courts also play a role in it. In many cases, the process takes time due to legal hurdles and lengthy hearings in foreign courts. For this reason the return of Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya is being delayed.

#WATCH Delhi: On being asked about fugitives Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, "We remain fully committed that people who are fugitives and wanted by law in India, return to the country. For this, we are in talks with several governments and… pic.twitter.com/a8oAmGnXW1

— ANI (@ANI) December 26, 2025

Video became cause of controversy

Recently, Lalit Modi shared a video on his Instagram account, which is said to be of Vijay Mallya’s birthday party. In the video, both are seen laughing and Lalit Modi jokingly calls himself and Mallya “India’s two biggest fugitives”. Along with the video, he also wrote such a caption, which drew strong reactions on social media.

🚨🇮🇳 UNBELIEVABLE! Embezzler of billions Lalit Modi brags on camera about being India’s top fugitive on the run!

Vijay Mallya there but stays silent, skipping the shameless tirade.

These audacious criminals must be extradited back to India at any cost! pic.twitter.com/ijeNYZM4wB

— Uday Singh (@udaysinghkali) December 23, 2025

Anger emerged on social media

After this video surfaced, anger was seen among the common people. Many users on social media raised questions as to how people who owe thousands of crores of rupees to the country’s banks are openly celebrating in foreign countries. This was seen as a challenge to India’s legal system and agencies.

clear message from the government

Amidst these questions and criticisms, the Ministry of External Affairs has made it clear that the government will not be influenced by any kind of pressure or provocation. Randhir Jaiswal reiterated that the Government of India is taking all necessary steps to bring these fugitives within the ambit of law and concrete results will emerge in this direction in the coming time.