Top 10 World-Famous Indian Fugitives And Their Scandals: Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi, Dawood Ibrahim and Others

Top 10 World-Famous Indian Fugitives And Their Scandals: India has seen several high-profile individuals who absconded and have become fugitives due to their involvement in significant financial scandals and criminal activities. These cases have not only captured national attention but have also highlighted challenges in the country's financial and legal systems. Famous individuals such as Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi and Dawood Ibrahim have been implicated in various crimes, leading them to flee the country to evade prosecution.

In addition to causing significant financial losses, their acts have sparked doubts about the effectiveness of India's regulatory framework. Many of these fugitives are still at large, living in nations with which India does not have extradition treaties, despite continuous efforts by Indian officials to bring them to justice. This case emphasizes how difficult it is to enforce international law and how strong international collaboration is necessary to successfully handle such issues.

Here is the list of top 10 world famous Indian Fugitives and their scandals, either that is financial or the crime scandals.

1. Vijay Mallya

Vijay Mallya (Image: ANI)

Once known as the "King of Good Times," Vijay Mallya owned United Breweries and Kingfisher Airlines. He is charged with defaulting on debts from many Indian banks totalling ₹9,000 crores, or roughly $1.2 billion. Mallya moved to the UK in 2016 after being accused of fraud and financial mismanagement. He is still in the UK and is battling extradition (to make someone return for trial) to India.

2. Lalit Modi

Lalit Modi (Image: Instagram)

The Indian Premier League's (IPL) founder and former commissioner, Lalit Modi, was linked to financial irregularities and other wrongdoings with the cricket league. In 2010, he left for the UK amid claims of bid rigging and money laundering. Despite continuous investigations and legal actions regarding his extradition, Modi is still living in the United Kingdom.

3. Nirav Modi

Nirav Modi (Image: ANI)

Prominent diamond dealer Nirav Modi is charged with using fictitious Letters of Undertaking to mastermind a $2 billion (approx ₹14,000) scam against the Punjab National Bank (PNB). He fled after the scam became public in early 2018 and was eventually apprehended in the UK. He is currently being held in the UK and is contesting extradition to India.

4. Mehul Choksi

Mehul Choksi (Image: ANI)

The PNB fraud case also involved Mehul Choksi, the owner of Gitanjali Group and the uncle of Nirav Modi. In January 2018, he escaped India and obtained Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. Following an alleged attempt to flee to Cuba, Choksi was captured in Dominica in May 2021. He was subsequently permitted to return to Antigua, where he is currently battling legal challenges to his extradition to India.

5. Nitin J. Sandesara

Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara (Image: Youtube)

Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and his brother Chetan Sandesara are charged with using their business, Sterling Biotech Limited, to cheat Indian banks out of over ₹5,383 crores. The brothers escaped to Nigeria, with which India does not have an extradition treaty, making it more difficult to bring them back for trial.

6. Jatin Mehta

Winsome Diamonds & Jewellery Limited's owner, Jatin Mehta, is accused of defrauding banks out of around ₹6,500 crores. According to reports, he moved to St. Kitts and Nevis and became a citizen there. Attempts to repatriate him for legal processes have been hampered by India's absence of an extradition pact with this Caribbean country.

7. Hitesh Kumar Narendrabhai Patel

Hitesh Patel's company, OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd, is connected to a bank fraud case that involves ₹5,000 crores. Since his detention in Albania in 2019, India has been working to get him extradited so that he can be charged with the alleged fraud.

8. Dawood Ibrahim

Famous underworld personality Dawood Ibrahim is charged with planning the 1993 Mumbai bombings, which claimed many lives. In addition, he engages in extortion and drug trafficking, among other illegal enterprises. He is still on India's most-wanted list despite being thought to be living in Pakistan, which denies him entry.

9. Chhota Shakeel

Chhota Shakeel, a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim, has engaged in targeted killings and extortion as well as other organized crime activities. He is also believed to be in Pakistan, where he is still connected to Dawood's criminal organization.

10. Hajra Iqbal Memon

Hajra Memon, the wife of Dawood Ibrahim's main assistant, Iqbal Mirchi is wanted in India concerning money laundering and property-related offences. To avoid Indian law enforcement, she is believed to have fled to another country after her husband passed away.