MEA says it’s talking to legal experts for Mallya deportation
NEW DELHI: The foreign ministry is consulting legal experts to deport liquor baron Vijay Mallya to face proceedings in a money laundering case, ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said on Friday.
The comments came a day after the enforcement directorate approached the foreign ministry to initiate deportation proceedings against Mallya, who is currently in the United Kingdom. He is also under probe for defaulting on bank loans worth over ` 9,000 crore.
“Now we are consulting legal experts,” Swaroop said, when asked about the ED request for deportation.
On Monday, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai issued a non-bailable warrant against Mallya after the ED alleged the industrialist invested around half of a ` 950 crore loan from IDBI bank — taken by his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) — in properties outside the country.
But the deportation request will hinge on the UK’s response and the government is worried that Mallya will emulate former IPL boss Lalit Modi, who managed to stay back in Britain.
“The grounds for deportation are primarily two. A nonbailable warrant issued by the Mumbai court and suspension of the passport of the businessman,” sources said. Swaroop’s comments indicate the Centre is exploring all options to ensure a water-tight case and follow due process for the deportation of Mallya, who has till date appeared unfazed by debt recovery pressure from banks and central probes.
Mallya left India in March, triggering outrage as he is under probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED for defaulting on loans taken by KFA .
A consortium of 17 banks led by the State Bank of India has approached the Supreme Court to recover their money.
As on date, KFA owes R9,300 crore to banks and various government departments in loans, interests and other dues.
The ED had approached the foreign ministry to ask that Mallya’s passport be revoked and he be deported.
“Those two actions are underway,” Swaroop said.
A Rajya Sabha MP, Mallya’s diplomatic passport is suspended for four weeks.
The ministry was also examining the response provided by Mallya through his lawyer to the show-cause notice asking why his passport should not be impounded or revoked, he said.
Sources said Mallya’s lawyers submitted that their client was cooperating in the investigation when they presented a case against his passport’s revocation.
But a lot is dependent on UK authorities. Lalit Modi stayed back in the UK on the basis that his “leave to enter or remain in the UK remains valid”. Such leave is granted to the individual and therefore does not automatically expire upon the cancellation or expiry of thepassportinwhichitisendorsed.