UK JUDGE DIDN’T CRITICISE INDIA

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service has rejected the claim that the Indian government or its extradition request was criticised during a hearing in the Vijay Mallya case.

LONDON:Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has rejected the claim that the Indian government or its extradition request was criticised by the judge during Tuesday’s hearing on the extradition of controversial Indian businessman Vijay Mallya.

TheBritain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) acts on behalf of a country requesting extradition in proceedings in British courts. Mallya’s case is being heard in the Westminster Magistrates Court by chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot.

CPS sources told Hindustan Times on Thursday the case was “large and complex” and the amount gathered by the Indian police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was “substantial”.

The material, they said, needed to be reviewed by the CPS’ Extradition Team and served in an organised and structured way upon the defence team, which will be done before the next hearing on July 6 to fulfil the prima facie requirement.

This will show that there is a case for Mallya to answer, sources added.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Mallya’s team served a ‘Statement of Issues on the Court and CPS Extradition Team’.

That document contains the bars to extradition that Mallya will raise.

For each bar to extradition raised, he will need to provide supporting evidence.

Mallya’s lawyer, Ben Watson, mentioned a second extradition request that India may submit.

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) sources said whether or not a second request was made, with further charges, it would be a matter for the Indian government.

“That is an issue we will deal with if it arises. At present, there is nothing concrete to consider,” they added.