New Delhi, Nov. 25 -- The Supreme Court's rare decision to close all criminal and enforcement cases against the fugitive Sandesara brothers-promoters of Sterling Biotech Ltd and Sterling SEZ & Infrastructure Ltd-after they agreed to pay Rs.5,100 crore has triggered a debate on whether other big bank-fraud fugitives can use this ruling to seek settlements.

Mint looks at what the Supreme Court ordered, and whether similar relief could be sought by high-profile offenders such as Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.

In its 19 November order, a bench of justices J.K. Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi accepted a settlement proposal presented by the legal team of Sterling promoters and investigative agencies represented by solicitor general Tushar Mehta. ...