Hamburg, Jul 8 (India Today): Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met his British counterpart Theresa May and asked for UK's cooperation in extradition of escaped Indian economic offenders. The leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 summit which is underway in Hamburg, Germany. The move could give a fillip to India's long-pending request of extraditing defaulters like Vijay Mallya.

Mallya, who owes Indian banks Rs 6,963 crore (Rs 9,000 crore with interest), is wanted in India for cases relating to foreign exchange violation, debt recovery and embezzlement.

He fled India for the United Kingdom in March last year and was officially declared an absconder by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in November last year.

The 61-year-old Mallya, known for leading a flamboyant lifestyle, has been fighting an extradition case in the UK. In April this year, London's Scotland Yard,acting upon India's request, formally arrested Mallya on an extraction warrant. He was taken to a local court, which granted him bail.

He is next set to appear in front of the British court on May 17. India has been pushing for Mallya's extradition, with even the Prime Minister's Office getting involved.

In November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally explained to visiting British PM Theresa May why it was important that Mallya be returned to India.

India had asked Britain to hand over 57 wanted people, including Christian Michel, the alleged middleman in the Agusta Westland helicopter deal.The Enforcement Directorate has already sought issuance of an Interpol red corner notice against Mallya in connection with its money laundering probe against him.