Pillai gave up Indian citizenship in 2013, escaped MEA radar

The crime branch team had to run from pillar to post to get gangster Kumar Pillai’s extradition order in their favour after it emerged that the gangster had given

The crime branch team had to run from pillar to post to get gangster Kumar Pillai’s extradition order in their favour after it emerged that the gangster had given up his Indian citizenship three years ago to become a Chinese national.

A team from the Mumbai crime branch returned from Singapore after submitting documents to prove the identity of fugitive gangster Kumar Krishna Pillai alias Kumar Pillai, whose extradition process is underway in Singapore. (HT File Photo)

Pillai gave up his Indian citizenship in 2013, surrendering his Indian passport to the high commission in Singapore.

Read: 17 years after, a gangster’s on his way to India

This was an error by the Ministry of External Affairs, which should have been alerted after receiving the request from the fugitive gangster with a red corner notice - an international alert circulated by Interpol - in his name.

“That was a major error by the central government. He surendered his citizenship without cropping up on their radar. He had a Hong Kong passport made, to change his nationality. He put a case before the court seeking extradition to China instead of India,” said a crime branch officer.

This alarmed the counsel representing the Mumbai police. Documents including his First Information Reports (FIRs), case papers and fingerprints taken by the local police station were given to the committal (lower) court to prove his Indian connect.

The fingerprints were taken in a case registered in June 1990 by the Vikhroli police station.

“His birth and school leaving certificates were produced. We provided details about his family, including his mother, who is running a school in suburban Mumbai (Vikhroli) founded by his father.

We presented a report stating that his native place is Tamil Nadu and that he has relatives there,” added the officer.

The court ruled in India’s favour. An ‘Emergency Document’ for immigration was issued by the high commission of India in Pillai’s name, as he doesn’t have an Indian passport.

Upon his arrival in Mumbai, Pillai will be produced in a local court and will be handed over to unit VII of the crime branch. Officials have strong evidence against him in the 2013 former MLA Mangesh Sangle’s extortion case and a 2009 extortion case, which comes under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.