The Indian Supreme Court has directed embattled businessman Vijay Mallya, who has been ordered to be extradited from the United Kingdom, to be present in front of the Indian court October 5 at 2 pm. The apex court also asked the Union ministry of home affairs to ensure his presence in the courtroom on that day.
A bench of Justices U U Lalit and Ashok Bhushan, while dismissing his review petitions against the May 9, 2017 verdict, stated they would not entertain any re-hearing of the matter and there was no ‘error apparent on record’ to justify interference in review jurisdiction.
“Now that the Review Petitions are dismissed, we direct respondent No.3 to appear before this Court on 05.10.2020 at 02:00 p.m. and also direct the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi to facilitate and ensure the presence of respondent No.3 before this Court on that day. A copy of this judgement be sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs for facility and compliance," the Bench statement read.
The Supreme Court had rejected Mallya's plea seeking review of the 2017 verdict holding him guilty for contempt of court. Mallya had sought a review of its May 2017 order holding him guilty of contempt for transferring USD 40 million to his children in violation of the court's order.
Liquor baron Mallya, promoter of the defunct Kingfisher Airlines has been charged with alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to estimated INR 9,000 crore. He is presently in the UK.
The United Kingdom government can not set a timeline for extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, then British High Commissioner Sir Philip Barton had said last month.
"The extradition of Vijay Mallya is an ongoing legal case and I can't comment any further on it. I can't say anything at all about timescales," Barton said.
Barton further added, "The UK government and the courts, which are independent of the government, are absolutely clear about their roles in preventing people avoid justice by moving to another country. We are all determined to play our part in any case, and to make sure that we are working together to ensure that criminals can't escape justice by crossing national borders."
Citing the unresolved legal issues, the UK government earlier indicated that Mallya is unlikely to be extradited to India anytime soon. In May, Mallya lost his appeals in the UK Supreme Court against his extradition to India.