Mallya loses UK lawsuit

london — Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya lost a UK lawsuit filed by Indian banks seeking to collect more than £1.15 billion ($1.55 billion) amid allegations that he committed massive fraud.

Judge Andrew Henshaw in London Tuesday said the lenders, including IDBI Bank, can enforce an Indian court ruling that relates to allegations that Mallya willfully defaulted on about $1.4 billion in debt for his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. Henshaw also refused to overturn a worldwide order freezing Mallya’s assets.

The 62-year-old is fighting numerous lawsuits in the UK and his native country over fraud and money-laundering allegations. He was arrested in London more than a year ago and is waging another fight to block extradition.

Henshaw refused permission to appeal Tuesday’s ruling, meaning his attorneys will have to directly petition the Court of Appeal.

Attorneys at law firm TLT in London, who are representing the lenders, said the ruling will allow them to enforce the underlying judgment by the Indian debt recovery tribunal immediately.

The asset freeze order had forced Mallya to live on £5,000 a week, but his allowance was increased to roughly £20,000 a week earlier this year, lawyers for the lenders said after the hearing.

Mallya was arrested in London on April 18 on a warrant issued by Indian authorities accusing him of conspiring to defraud India’s IDBI Bank through a $1.4 billion loan to Kingfisher Airlines Ltd. — Bloomberg