KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Police cannot execute the warrants issued by India for the arrest of tycoon Tan Sri T. Ananda Krishnan and his lieutenant Augustus Ralph Marshall without an extradition order, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.

The Inspector-General of Police said the requirement applied to all countries barring exceptions such as Singapore.

"India’s arrest warrant cannot be enforced in Malaysia. India needs to apply for extradition via mutual legal assistance through the [Attorney-General’s] Chambers,” Khalid said.

Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that the Indian Supreme Court granted the country’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) two arrest warrants for the billionaire and Marshall, in relation to a high-profile probe into alleged phone-licence corruption involving Indian government officials.

CBI reportedly sought the warrants as part of its investigation into allegations that former telecommunications minister Dayanidhi Maran improperly favoured an operator for a phone licence.

Bloomberg noted that India has previously issued "unrealistic” court orders including in 2014 when its Supreme Court ordered Samsung Electronics Co Chairman Lee Kun-Hee to appear before judges in a still-pending dispute over a US$1.4 million (RM5.7 million) payment.