Lalit Modi

This means that INTERPOL will not arrest him in relation to Indian government’s request for extradition.

Against the backdrop of cases related to Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi, the government today said it is working to have agreements with the maximum number of nations to ensure that big-time economic offenders "cannot hide" abroad.

In a written reply, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the two cases in question remain an issue under discussion between the governments of India and the UK and referred to the Joint Statement issued during the recent visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India.

Alleging that the country's economy is in chaos in wake of the demonetisation move, the CPI today demanded that the Centre should allow use of old notes till December 31 for all public utilities even as it pressed for action against "real black money hoarders" and those named in Panama leaks.

The LR, a formal request from a Court to a foreign court for judicial assistance in a case, would be sent to the competent authority in Singapore through the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mallya had left India on March 2 using his diplomatic passport and is believed to be in the UK.

Sources said that after the Ministry of External Affairs made certain suggestions to the probe agency indicating that a regular extradition of the accused from the United Kingdom could only be made after filing a charge sheet in the case, ED now plans to use the MLAT route.

External Affairs Ministry will approach the UK for extradition of former IPL chairman Lalit Modi, facing money laundering charges, once the Enforcement Directorate investigating the case has responded to certain suggestions made by it in the matter.

Switzerland on May 31 named Lalit Modi and his wife Minal among those about whom information and assistance have been sought from its tax department by the Indian authorities

"The Panama Papers have been leaked and many names have been mentioned about black money kept in Panama. It has also mentioned that Chattisgarh chief minister's son Abhishek Singh has account in Panama," Gandhi said while addressing a Congress poll rally here for the second phase of Assam Assembly election on April 11.

Congress members trooped in the Well and raised slogans half way through the Zero Hour after its member Pramod Tiwari raised the issue. The party had raised the issue last week also.

"Those who cried hoarse when Lalit Modi fled the country should now give answers as to how Mallya fled the country. Even a kid would have known that Mallya would flee, surprising that government didn't anticipate," the party said in the editorial.

The AG also said he had came to know through media that the process to extradite Mallya has been initiated as India had signed a treaty with the United Kingdom.

Official sources said today that the agency has moved an official request in this regard to the Union Home Ministry with a copy of a recently issued non-bailable warrant by a Mumbai court against Modi.

The ED reportedly received the query from the Interpol on August 20. Interpol has asked to know if there is ample evidence is available against Lalit Modi to arrest him.

A red corner notice from Interpol is meant to arrest and extradite the accused to the country where the alleged crime was committed. Sources have told CNN-IBN that he could be arrested soon by the Interpol.

After his lawyer in Mumbai refused to accept the summons, contending he was not authorised for it, the ED had e-mailed it to the former IPL honcho, who has made London his home, but elicited no response from him. CBI is the nodal agency for Interpol-related affairs in India.

Dismissing all allegations against her family and self, the External Affairs Minister alleged that those who actually indulged in quid pro quo were members of Congress, and Gandhi family in particular.

Modi, who faces allegations of financial impropriety and is currently based here, said the new body would be affiliated with the Olympic movement and oversee Test and T20 competitions, while scrapping the ODI format altogether.

A furious Sushma Swaraj on Thursday flayed the Opposition for continuing to protest over the Lalit Modi scandal and delaying Parliament proceedings.