New Delhi: If you think there are only three fugitive businessmen and economic offenders including Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi who have fled the country in the past then this might come to you as a shocker. According to a recent report, there are as many as twenty-seven such defaulting businessmen who have left the country in the span of last five years, Parliament was informed on Friday. Speaking in the Parliament, Minister of State for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla said that the Interpol has been approached to issue red corner notices (RCNs) against 20 out of these 27 economic offenders. Further, in his written reply, Shukla said that the International Police Criminal Organisation has already issued RCNs against eight of these businessmen who have fled the country and also stated the fact that extradition requests have been sent against six of these fugitive businessmen.

As per the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), applications under Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, have been filed against seven persons out of these 27, news agency PTI quoted the minister as saying in a written reply to the Parliament. He also informed the House that Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London has recommended extradition of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the UK to India.

Recently, the defunct Kingfisher Airlines chief offered to pay back 100 per cent of the principal amount he owes to Indian banks. His offer came days before extradition order was issued by the UK court against him. Mallya fled to the UK on March 2, 2016, as a consortium of 13 banks, led by the State Bank of India (SBI) closed in on him, with Mallya owing Rs 9,000 crore.

In the conclusion of his reply, Shukla also said that the government has advised the public sector banks (PSBs) to obtain a certified copy of the passport of promoters/directors and other authorised signatories of companies availing loan facilities of more than Rs 50 crore.

In a similar case, one India’s renown diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi fled the country been accused in connection with fraudulent cases related to Rs 13,000 crore banking fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB)