As India chases fugitives, UK team assesses Tihar facilities

A delegation from the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recently visited Tihar Jail in Delhi to assess prison conditions, as part of efforts to strengthen India’s case for the extradition of, among others, high-profile economic offenders such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.

- Neeraj Chauhan

The visit, facilitated by the ministry of home affairs (MHA), is seen asa significant step in ongoing legal proceedings in UK courts, senior officials said.

According to officials, although the CPS team was generally satisfied with the standards of care and facilities provided to inmates, Indian authorities are learnt to have assured the delegation that, if necessary, a dedicated “enclave” could be established in the Tihar complex to accommodate high-profile extraditees, ensuring their specific needs are met in line with international expectations.

The inspection is expected to result in favourable feedback being relayed to UK authorities, bolstering the confidence of Indian investigators seeking the return of fugitives currently sheltering in the UK. Three senior officials independently confirmed the high-level visit, which took place in July, to HT. A CPS spokesperson said: “We routinely meet and engage with our international partners across the globe, including India, to ensure justice can be delivered internationally.”