The UK seems to be a safe haven for all multi-millionaire scamsters from India. Vijay Mallya followed Lalit Modi out of India to the UK, and now it is the turn of another, Nirav Modi. The diamond merchant who, in cohorts with managers virtually stole Rs 13,000 crore from a consortium of Indian banks (led by Punjab National Bank), is seeking asylum in the UK, according to reports.
Technically, though it would not be a case similar to the other Modi and Mallya. While Nirav does hold an Indian passport, it is said that he has also illegally acquired a Belgian passport. Indians are not allowed to hold dual citizenship. The technicality of this not clear. With his Indian passport declared void, he would have to use his other passport, and therein lies a basic criminality that India could use to force an extradition, if Indeed Indian authorities want to.
Reports quoting the Financial Times said that while Britain’s Home Office refused to comment, sources have clarified tghat this move has apparently happened.
Modi has been trying to hire a lawyer with enough clout to get him an asylum and it is said that he has approached at least two UK firms. He is using the ruse “political persecution” to get a toehold in the UK.
-India Legal Bureau