‘Confidential’ issue holding up Mallya extradition

nNEWDELHI: Britain said on Thursday that a “confidential” legal issue was holding up the extradition of businessman Vijay Mallya to India, where he is wanted by investigative agencies for alleged financial offences, but that it was seeking to deal with the matter as quickly as possible.

Indian agencies and legal experts could only speculate about the nature of the issue that has cropped up-- from Covid infections in the prison where he is to be held, to possibility he has applied for asylum in UK or may be planning to approach the European Court of Human Rights.

A spokesperson for British high commission said there was still a legal issue of confidential nature. “He last month lost his appeal and was refused leave to appeal to UK Supreme Court,” spokesperson said. “However, there is a further legal issue that needs resolving... Under UK law, extradition cannot take place until it is resolved. The issue is confidential and we can’t go into any detail,” spokesperson added, declining to “estimate how long this issue will take to resolve”, and said: “We are seeking to deal with this as quickly as possible.”

UK home secretary Priti Patel is expected to make a final decision on his extradition. British authorities, through external affairs ministry, have also informed CBI and ED about “confidential” legal issue. However, officials in both agencies said they weren’t given details on grounds UK law didn’t allow disclosure of details before it is resolved.

Both agencies also suspect Mallya

had applied for asylum in UK on “certain unknown specific grounds” as his claim of a “political witch-hunt” has been debunked by British courts.

There is also a possibility Mallya could use Covid cases at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where he is to be held, as a “change of circumstance” to avoid or delay his extradition, people familiar with developments said. There are about 200 Covid cases in the prison and Mallya has underlying health conditions that could be exacerbated, the people said.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi police on Thursday told Delhi high court that the violence which took place on December 13 and December 15 at Jamia Millia Islamia campus was not “sporadic but a well-planned attack as all rioters were well-armed with stones, lathis and petrol bombs.”

While replying to six pleas filed in Jamia violence, Delhi police advocates Amit Mahajan and Rajat Nair, told court the intention of the mob was to disrupt law and order in the area.

Police also said that with respect to the three FIRS on the violence, charge sheets have already been filed in Saket court against 20 accused, none of whom are students of the varsity.

The pleas were filed seeking directions to the police to not take any coercive action against the students of JMI university and to quash all criminal proceedings against them.

Police said probe revealed local leaders and politicians were instigating protestors and were raising provocative and inciting slogans. “They burnt tyres and threw the same towards police. The CAT ambulance, passing through university road with a patient inside, was also damaged…this unlawful crowd in different groups entered campus on both sides of road and started pelting stones on the force,” police said.