Former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman and fugitive Lalit Modi has expressed an apology, days after he and Vijay Mallya called themselves the “biggest fugitives of India” in a video that did not go well with the Indians. After massive backlash, Lalit Modi took to X and apologised, stating that he has highest respect for the Government of India.
“I apologise if I have hurt anyone’s feelings, especially the Indian Government, who I have the highest respect and regard for. The statement was misconstrued and was never intended to be as played out. Once again my deepest apologies,” Modi said in the X post.
Lalit Modi-Vijay Mallya’s video
Last week, Lalit Modi took to Instagram and shared a video with Vijay Mallya for the latter’s birthday bash in London. In the video, Lalit Modi called himself and Mallya the “biggest fugitives of India”, apparently mocking the country.
“Let’s break the internet down in India again. Happy birthday my friend #VijayMallya. Love u,” he wrote in the caption. The video comes amid ongoing calls for their extradition to India.
The video sparked widespread criticism, with Indian social media users slamming Lalit Modi’s remark. “This is not humour, it is an open mockery of the Indian state. When economic offenders joke freely from foreign soil, it exposes how weak enforcement and political will really are. The silence of the government sends a dangerous message that the powerful can loot the country, flee, and laugh,” a user wrote on X.
MEA responds to video
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while reacting to the video, said that procedures are underway to bring them back to the country.
“We are committed to bringing back the fugitives, and we have been in touch with the countries for their return, and processes are on. As you know, many of these cases involve multiple layers of legal procedures,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Both Mallya and Lalit Modi fled India after their names popped up in fraud and money laundering cases. Vijay Mallya is wanted for money laundering charges in connection with loans he took for the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. He fled the country in 2016.
Whereas, Lalit Modi has been accused of financial misconduct and irregularities during the early years of IPL, when he headed the league. He left India in 2010.