UK’s help sought to extradite Vijay Mallya

New Delhi: India has sought assistance from Britain for extradition of 13 fugitives and also asked that it should put a check to activities of Khalistani and Kashmiri separatist groups. India also expressed concern over some British MPs and political leaders raising the issue pro-Kashmir groups. These issues were discussed in detail during a meeting between minister of state for home affairs Kiren Rijiju with British minister of state for immigration Brandon Lewis on Monday.

Those whose extradition has been sought by India include Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi and alleged cricket bookie Sanjiv Kapur. In addition, New Delhi has also sought legal help from Britain for prosecution of 16 other criminals as part of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty between the two countries.

Sources said Mr Rijiju also raised the issue of anti-India activities being carried out by some Khalistani and Kashmiri groups.  The British delegation, sources added, has assured all possible help to the issues raised by Mr Rijiju.

“We also raised the issue of some local British politicians doing lobbying for pro-Kashmir groups as we feel this is being done at the behest of some MPs of Pakistani origin. The British minister has assured us that also the issues discussed would surly be looked into seriously. Some present and former MPs had supported a motion on the Kashmir issue in the British Parliament in the past,’’ a senior ministry official said.

New Delhi made it clear to the British delegation that Kashmir is an integral part of India and such activities should be checked. India has also agreed to consider Britain’s request to be a signatory to Criminal Record Co-operation, which would provide information and link those Indians involved in organised crime.

It was also decided that the home ministry would provide an emergency certificate for six months to those Indians in the United Kingdom who misplace their travel documents.