Request to extradite Mallya certified by UK’s secy of state

The Dollar Business Bureau 

The United Kingdom (UK) has informed India that the request for extraditing liquor baron Vijay Mallya, declared as a proclaimed offender in a loan default case, has been approved by the UK’s secretary of state.

“The UK Home Department on February 21 conveyed that the request of India for extradition of Mallya has been certified by the secretary of state and sent to the Westminster Magistrates' Court for a district judge to consider the issue of releasing of warrant," said Gopal Baglay, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.

This latest development is a major step ahead towards extraditing the fugitive industrialist, who is wanted in India in a loan default case of more than Rs.9,000 crore.

Baglay also pointed out that a formal request for extradition with regards to Vijay Mallya according to the Extradition Treaty with the UK was given to the High Commission of UK in India on February 8, through a note verbale.

While submitting the request with the High Commission, India had emphasised that there is a ‘legitimate’ case against Vijay Mallya and mentioned that if the request for extradition is honoured, this would display UK’s sensitivity towards India’s concerns.

In January 2017, a non-bailable warrant was issued against Mallya by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in a loan default case of Rs.720-crore of IDBI Bank.

Vijay Mallya, whose now-inoperative Kingfisher Airlines has loans to pay over Rs.9,000 crore to several banks, had left the country stealthily on March 2 last year.