Extradite Mallya to India, Says London Court

Beleaguered industrialist Vijay Mallya must be extradited from the UK to India, where he is accused of committing bank frauds of Rs 9,000 crore, a London court ruled on Monday.

The Westminster Magistrates’ Court gave the ruling following a prolonged litigation involving Mallya, who fled India in March 2016. 

The decision came six days after British national and middleman in the Rs 3,600 crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, Christian Michael, was extradited to India from Dubai.

Mallya has repeatedly denied fleeing from India, and has said that he was ready to pay back the money he owed to Indian banks.

Proceedings are on before the Mumbai Special Court against Mallya under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

Late in 2017, India filed extradition proceedings against Mallya which he has contested. He is currently on bail in London.

The UK home secretary will have two months to sign Mallya's extradition order from the date of the verdict. However, Mallya will be given the opportunity to appeal in higher courts in the UK against the Magistrates' Court verdict.

Earlier this year, the 62-year-old business tycoon had complained that there is no natural light or fresh air in the Arthur Road Jail – where he would be kept following his extradition. The Indian government, however, had told the court that Mallya would be put up in barracks with fresh air and light, a private western-style toilet facility, and clean bedding, according to a NDTV report.

Mallya had recently tweeted, “With respect where have I defrauded Banks? I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud.”