The Indian government has reaffirmed its determination to secure the return of economic offenders Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya, days after a controversial video surfaced online in which the two were seen joking about being fugitives from India.

Responding to questions on the viral clip, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that bringing the duo back involves lengthy and complicated legal procedures across different jurisdictions. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Indian authorities remain in constant touch with foreign governments to move the extradition process forward, even though such cases require navigating multiple layers of international law.

The video in question was shared on social media by Lalit Modi, the former IPL chief, from a birthday celebration he hosted in London for Vijay Mallya, who recently turned 70. In the clip, Modi refers to both of them as “India’s biggest fugitives,” while Mallya is seen laughing alongside him. The post, which quickly gained traction online, was widely perceived as a deliberate provocation.

Mallya, who left India in 2016, has been declared a fugitive economic offender in connection with alleged fraud and money laundering linked to loans worth around ₹9,000 crore taken by the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. He is currently in the UK, out on bail, and has sought asylum there.

Lalit Modi, meanwhile, has been living overseas since 2010. He faces allegations of financial irregularities during the early years of the Indian Premier League and has been subject to a non-bailable arrest warrant since 2015.

The video triggered strong reactions on social media, with many users accusing the duo of openly ridiculing Indian law enforcement and questioning the effectiveness of extradition efforts. Despite the criticism, the government has maintained that it is actively pursuing all available legal and diplomatic avenues to bring both men back to India.