‘PLAYBOY’ HEADING FOR ARTHUR RD JAIL
Beleaguered tycoon Vijay Mallya can be extradited to India, where he is wanted for defaulting on Rs. 9,000 crore in loans advanced by banks to his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines.
There was no sign of a false case being foisted on him, UK judge Emma Arbuthnot said, adding that there was no evidence either that the prosecution was politically motivated. The judge also noted that any suggestion that the CBI courts in India were too "pliable" when it came to CBI cases "is not borne out by reliable evidence". Calling it a great day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted: "No one who cheats India will go scot-free."
The 74-page judgement describes Mallya as a bejewelled, billionaire playboy. The judge shot down the tycoon's argument that he was at risk in Mumbai's Arthur Road jail as it lacked proper air or light. There was "no ground at all to believe that" he faced any risk in the jail or there was any human rights violation, which has recently been "redecorated", said the UK court. "He will have access to personal medical care to manage his diabetes and coronary problems," the judge ruled.
Mallya, 62, told reporters that he was exploring his legal options. "My legal team will review the judgement and follow legal procedures, I don't want to speculate anything," he said. Out on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant last year, Mallya said he was exploring his legal options. "My legal team will review the judgement and follow legal procedures, I don't want to speculate anything," he said.
The businessman has 14 days to appeal. Should he choose to go to the Court of Appeal, it could take months for the case to be heard. If this goes against him, he can apply for the right to appeal to the Supreme Court. It is not uncommon for a court of appeal to overturn the verdict of a lower court. Welcoming the London court decision, the CBI officials in New Delhi said they hope to bring Mallya back to India soon and said that the agency was always strong on facts and legally it was confident while pursuing the extradition process. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the Mallya ruling was not a “victory” as the issue was about banking systems. He added that instead of Mallya, the Modi government should talk about the Rafale deal. Authorities at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai have kept a high security cell ready for the liquor tycoon if he is extradited from UK, an official said on Monday. Earlier in the day, Mallya sought to disprove the narrative that he has "stolen" money and said his offer to repay the principal amount to the Indian banks was "not bogus". Mallya made the remarks while talking to reporters outside the Westminster Magistrates' Court. "My settlement offer has been made before the Karnataka High Court. It is not related to this extradition trial. Nobody disrespects a court of law by making a bogus offer. The assets have been attached by the ED, so they cannot be bogus assets," he said, asserting that his offer to repay the principal amount was not bogus. The embattled liquor tycoon also said that the value of his assets is more than enough to pay everybody and that is exactly what he was focusing on.