Indian Government Has Announced Plans To Bring Back Vijay Mallya From The UK

The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that it would soon initiate court proceedings and approach the British government to get Vijay Mallya extradited from Britain even as the controversial liquor baron said he did not plan to return soon because of the fear that he may be taken straight to Tihar Jail from Delhi airport.

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Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi slammed Mallya for "playing with the Supreme Court of India" and scripting a "cock and bull story" after deliberately failing to comply with any of the SC's three directions. He said the government had sensed his attitude and taken steps for revocation of his passport and issuance of non-bailable arrest warrant against him.

Appearing for Mallya, senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan told a bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman that the businessman was not coming to India at present as he was aware of the circumstances prevailing in the country. He also hinted that Mallya feared meeting the fate of Subrata Roy of Sahara, who has been in Tihar Jail for over two years over non-refund of investors' money.

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"He has no passport. It has been revoked and an NBW has been issued. The prevailing circumstances mean the moment Mallya lands in Delhi, he would be taken straight to Tihar Jail." How is it going to help negotiations with banks for recovery of the loans? Looking at what is happening in the country, Mallya feels his personal liberty is in danger," Vaidyanathan said.

Rohatgi said, "If Mallya intends to come back, he still can despite cancellation of his passport. He can move the high commission in London for a visa and buy a one-way ticket.

Since he is not willing to come back to India, the government will take whatever steps are required to be taken. Revocation of passport has happened. I am telling this appearing for the government and the banks. We will initiate proceedings in court and go to the British government to seek him."

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Stung by the AG's one-way ticket argument, Vaidyanathan said this attitude of the government was forcing Mallya to stay away. "He is a defaulter but not a wilful one. It was a genuine business mishap that sunk Kingfisher Airlines. It did not have the government's support, which has till date pumped in Rs 40,000 crore into Air India to keep it afloat. Neither did it have foreign collaborations, like Jet has with Etihad, to fly on lucrative foreign routes to overcome its Rs 4,000 crore loss.

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"Mallya personally suffered a loss of Rs 6,100 crore in Kingfisher. That money is gone. Mallya has given up any hope of recovering it. Despite this, he has offered to pay Rs 4,400 crore. That should be accepted," Vaidyanathan said.

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The CBI had investigated Kingfisher investments since mid-2015 and not found a shred of evidence to show any misuse of loan money in purchase of personal assets by Mallya, he added.