Iqbal Mirchi, who had moved to the UK in 1995 as a dependant of his wife, Hina Iqbal Memon, had been arrested in the UK in April 1995. However, the Indian government lost its bid to extradite him as the Bow Street magistrates’ court decided there was no case for extradition. India did not appeal the decision but withdrew his Indian passport.
The UK government only gave him discretionary leave to remain in the UK. He does not have any passport and legally is still an Indian citizen.
He was issued basic travel documents by the UK government, which he uses to travel to Dubai. Twice-married Mirchi’s one wife and children live in Dubai.
The UK home and foreign offices both refused to confirm whether India had already put in a request for his extradition. “We neither confirm nor deny any extradition requests,” a home office spokesperson said. Interpol clarified Thursday that a Red Notice, which is the usual way for the organisation to inform its 188-member countries that an arrest warrant has been issued for an individual by a judicial authority, remains valid until the requesting country requests its cancellation. However, the Interpol office in Paris said a Red Notice “is not an international arrest warrant”. Interpol member countries have the option of having an abridged version of the Red Notice posted on its website. The 1993 Bombay riots mastermind Dawood Ibrahim appears on the website.
The Indian government said Wednesday it has initiated the process for extradition of Iqbal Mirchi.
“A red corner notice for the arrest of Iqbal Mirchi had been issued and continues to be valid, which means that he is a wanted person and that we do seek his extradition back to India,” the Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson said.