Flamboyant liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, who is fighting extradition to India over allegations of fraud and money-laundering, was heckled by Indian cricket fans with shouts of "Chor Chor"as he left the Oval following India vs Australia Cricket World Cup match.
As Mallya left the stadium on Sunday night, he, his ex-Kingfisher air hostess girlfriend Pinky Lalwani and his mother, Lalitha, got surrounded by around 100 desi cricket fans chanting "Chor hai". The trio were completely boxed in by the fans, some of whom were angry and others who were enjoying filming the drama on their mobiles. As the crowd surged forward, Mallya told a reporter "I am making sure my mother doesn't get hurt." A man could be heard shouting: "People love him!" Another screamed: "Be a man! Apologise to the country" to which Mallya responded "Thank you, all the best". A man, who seemed to be helping Mallya through, said: "No chor! Nobody can touch him¡± whilst another man shouted "You're a thief."
Mallya had arrived in the morning with Pinky in a chauffeur-driven pristine cream Bentley, the same car he has been spotted in at Silverstone, to be confronted by scores of Indian TV crews. He used to arrive at Westminster magistrates¡¯ court, where he stood trial, in a more subdued black Land Rover.
Asked how preparations for his court hearing are going, Mallya said: ¡°Preparations will go on, but here today I have come to watch he match and support the Indian cricket team. See you later.¡± He then was inundated with further questions which he evaded. He entered the cricket gate, turned around and said: ¡°I am here to watch the game.¡±
The fugitive businessman¡¯s next hearing at the high court, on July 2, will determine whether he can appeal his extradition order.
Lalwani sneaked into the ground dressed in a fur gilet body-warmer, red shirt and shades, with her hair tied back, whilst her long-term partner spoke to the waiting Indian media.
Mallya arrived perfectly dressed for a British society event in a pale blue blazer, an open-neck striped stiff-collar shirt under a blue waist jacket and a thick chain and hospitality pass around his neck to watch the two favourites in the heavyweight contest.
A reporter said: ¡°What are India's chances today?¡± He replied: ¡°Well, you know who I am supporting. I am dressed all in blue,¡± as passersby gathered to shoot him on their mobiles.
A reporter then asked: ¡°I seem to remember you bought Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc on one occasion?¡± ¡°Yeah, he played for the Royal Challengers. He is an absolutely world-class bowler,¡± Mallya replied.
The July 2 hearing is critical as, if he loses it, he has almost run out of options and could be put on a plane and sent back to India any day after that but within 28 days. Unless he gets leave to appeal at the hearing, he cannot appeal the decision to extradite him in either the Supreme Court or the High Court.
His only option, if he loses this next hearing, is to try and get a Rule 39 from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The 63-year-old posted a picture of himself and his son, Siddharth, on Twitter and wrote: "Great to watch cricket with my son and even sweeter to see India¡¯s emphatic victory over Australia. Congratulations to ?Virat Kohli? and his team ."