A Mumbai court has criticized investigating agencies for failing to arrest fugitive businessmen Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, and Mehul Choksi in time, which allowed them to flee the country. The remarks were made by Judge MG Deshpande on May 30 during a hearing regarding Vyomesh Shah's request to relax his bail conditions for work-related travel abroad.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Shah's request, fearing a repeat of the fugitive businessmen's cases. However, Judge Deshpande highlighted that the primary fault lay with the agencies' inability to act promptly.

?I thoughtfully examined this argument and felt it necessary to note that all these persons fled because of the failure of the investigating agencies concerned in not arresting them at proper time,? the judge stated.

Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya, both declared Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs), are currently in the UK. Mehul Choksi is in Dominica, with the ED seeking to declare him an FEO as well.

Vyomesh Shah, accused in a 2022 money laundering case, had been released on bail but was prohibited from leaving the country without court permission. He argued that frequent travel was necessary for his work. Judge Deshpande agreed to relax this condition, emphasizing that the court couldn't rectify the ED's initial failures. Shah is required to inform the ED of his travel plans before each trip.

?It is the ED which basically allows such person to be scot-free without any apprehensions of his travelling abroad, tampering and hampering evidence, flight risk, apprehension of dealing with complaint and assisting the said process etc. But for the first time when such person appears before the Court, all such contentions and objections astonishingly crop up before the Court. So, this Court has repeatedly taken a firm stand that the Court cannot do what the ED basically failed to do,? the judge remarked.