UK court to rule on Mallya papers today

LONDON: India’s request to the UK to extradite businessman Vijay Mallya to face charges related to financial misconduct has reached its closing stage in the Westminster Magistrates Court, which is due to rule on the admissibility of some key documents on Friday.

Unlike previous extradition cases that progressed through the courts over years and were eventually unsuccessful, Indian officials are delighted that the Mallya case has moved swiftly from the initial request, made on February 17, his arrest on April 18, 2017 and the likely conclusion now.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Theresa May discussed extradition cases of individuals sought by both countries during the former’s visit to London earlier this month, with Modi mainly mentioning those of economic offenders such as Mallya.

Mallya, a flamboyant businessman who once ran a thriving conglomerate, faces charges of financial misconduct amounting

to nearly

₹9,000 crore in debt owed to Indian banks by his defunct airline Kingfisher. He and his lawyer, Claire Montgomery, have stated during the series of court hearings that he has always been willing to reach a settlement with creditors. He flew out of India to the UK in March 2016, days before a debt court in Bengaluru ruled against him.

Extradition is a legal process under a 1993 treaty between

the two countries.