Mallya appears in UK court, says he’s clean

Vijay Mallya, the embattled tycoon wanted in India on loan defaults to several banks amounting to nearly Rs 9,000crore, on Tuesday claimed he has “enough evidence” to plead his case and dared the prosecution to prove that he has committed fraud.

“I deny all allegations that have been made and I will continue to deny them,” said the 61-year-old flamboyant boss of the erstwhile Kingfisher airlines, who appeared before Westminster Magistrates’ Court here for his extradition case hearing.

Chief Magistrate Emma Louise Arbuthnot granted bail to Mallya until December 4. The next hearing has been set for July 6.

“I have not eluded any court...I have enough evidence to prove my case,” Mallya told reporters outside the court. “I don't make statements to the media because anything I say is twisted. There is enough evidence, that will speak,” said Mallya, who was accompanied to court by his son Siddharth Mallya, a female companion and a group of supporters.

Mallya was arrested by Scotland Yard in April and has been out on bail, which was further extended until December 4 — also tentatively fixed as the final date of hearing in the case.

Mallya claimed that no loans were diverted anywhere. “You can keep dreaming about a billion pounds; you cannot prove anything without facts,” Mallya said.

Arbuthnot, who presided over what is referred to as a “case management hearing”, said, “Make sure you do not break any conditions of your bail. If you do so, you will be back in custody.” — PTI