UK Clears Vijay Mallya’s Extradition To India

New Delhi: The United Kingdom home secretary Sajid Javid on Monday approved the extradition request by Indian authorities and signed extradition papers to bring businessman Vijay Mallya back to India. Mallya can, however, appeal in the court within 14 days.

According to media reports, the Indian Government has initiated preparations to bring the fugitive back to India.

Mallya extradition is being seen as a big victory for India and for the BJP-ruled government at the Centre which will face the general elections in the next two-three months. The development also could not have come at a better time for The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which is embroiled in a standoff back home with the Kolkata Police.

The UK Home Secretary’s move followed the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 9, 2018, ordered Mallya’s extradition. He had two months to review and formally approve the extradition.

Mallya, who is facing charges of fraud, money laundering and violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), and the Indian government can appeal against the decision of the UK Home Secretary within 14 days of the order.

Mallya Friday claimed his group’s properties worth over Rs 13,000 crore have been attached, more than the ‘claimed’ Rs 9,000 crore that he “ran away with”, asking where is justice and how far will it go.

Arun Jaitley, who is undergoing treatment in New York, was the first among the senior government functionaries to react about Mallya’s extradition.

Meanwhile, a special Prevention of Money Laundering (PML) court on February 5, will hear a plea filed by a 17-bank consortium led by State Bank of India (SBI) seeking early release of Mallya’s assets worth about Rs 12,500 crore that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached. The banks want these assets to be sold immediately to realise the best value.