Vijay Mallya, accused of non-payment of loans, has been fighting his extradition to India. (PROCEEDINGS)
New Delhi:
Vijay Mallya’s extradition was ordered by a British court but has been delayed by “secret proceedings” initiated in the country, the government told the Supreme Court today about the tycoon wanted in India for credit fraud.
“There are some ‘secret proceedings’ initiated in the UK that the government of India is not aware of and has not been a part of,” the Foreign Office told the court. Attorney General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the ministry, said the UK High Court had approved the extradition.
The judges asked Vijay Mallya’s lawyers to inform them before November 2 when he could appear in court and “when the secret proceedings will end.”
Vijay Mallya, accused of defaulting on loans worth around 9 billion rupees involving his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, has been in the UK since March 2016 and has been fighting his extradition to India.
The Supreme Court asked what prevented his extradition.
“The nature of the extradition process is unknown. It is confidential,” the Foreign Ministry said.
The court noted that Vijay Mallya’s lawyer was unable to say when the legal and extradition proceedings in the UK would end.
The high court had asked the liquor baron to appear in court today to face contempt proceedings for transferring $ 40 million to his son Siddharth Mallya and his daughters Leanna and Tanya Mallya in violation of court orders. The court had ordered the Ministry of the Interior to guarantee their presence.
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