Mallya snubs ED thrice in a row, seeks time till May

MUMBAI: Vijay Mallya did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday for questioning in an alleged money laundering case — the third time he has failed to abide by summons from the investigators. The liquor baron has now asked for time till May.

Senior ED officials said they are mulling stern action as Mallya has exhausted the number of summons he can skip — a maximum of three — under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials privy to the investigation refused to divulge further details, but sources said the ED’s options include seeking an arrest warrant against Mallya and revoking his passport.

“We are yet to decide what action is to be taken, consider- ing this development. We may come to a decision by Monday. We are scouting all options we have under the PMLA,” a senior ED officer said, requesting anonymity.

The ED’s third and final summons to Mallya was on April 2, when the agency asked him to appear on Saturday.

Mallya has earlier asked for more time from the ED — he was first asked to appear on March 18, and then on April 2. After the second summons, he offered to repay more than half of the Rs7,000 crore his now defunct airline owes creditors.

The move signalled that pressure from banks and the moneylaundering probe against him may be working.

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