UK Inspects Tihar Jail for Extraditions

A delegation from the United Kingdom — Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom recently visited Tihar Prisons in Delhi to inspect prison conditions. This visit is a critical part of India's ongoing efforts to secure the extradition of high-profile fugitives, including Vijay Mallya, accused of defaulting on over Rs 9,000 crore in bank loans, and Nirav Modi, the prime accused in the Rs 13,800 crore Punjab National Bank fraud. British courts have previously raised concerns about the conditions of Indian prisons, leading to rejections of extradition requests. In response, India has assured the United Kingdom authorities that all extradited individuals will be held in safe and lawful conditions, with no illegal interrogation. The United Kingdom — Crown Prosecution Service team inspected Jail No. 4, spoke to prisoners, and reviewed infrastructure, with Indian officials offering to create a separate high-security enclave if needed. Currently, India has 178 pending extradition requests, with approximately 20 in the United Kingdom, including cases related to financial frauds, arms deals, and Khalistani networks. The Indian government, through officials like Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, is actively working with the United Kingdom to expedite the return of these individuals.