Mallya arrested, out on bail again
The two cases will now be clubbed, which may facilitate the extradition
Beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya was on Tuesday arrested yet again in UK in a second money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate. However, he was granted bail soon after.
Mallya was arrested on the basis of fresh documents presented before a London court by the Enforcement Directorate. The 61-yearold flamboyant businessman, who is wanted in India for defaulting on loans worth Rs 9,000 crore, is already out on bail on an extradition warrant executed by the Metropolitan Police earlier this year.
The CBI and ED cases will be now clubbed together in London court to provide ample proof of Mallya's involvement in the money laundering case. Efforts, then, will be made to extradite him to India.
It remains to be seen, however, if both cases will be clubbed together which may lead to a delay in the trial date.
Speaking to wire agency PTI outside the court roomy, Mallya said that he has "done nothing wrong" and described the allegations against him as "fabricated". "I deny all allegations that have been made and I will continue to deny them," he said. "I have not eluded any court. If it is my lawful duty to be here, I'm happy to be here," he said, adding, "I've given enough evidence to prove my case."
Mallya is in Britain on an "indefinite leave to remain" visa or on permanent residence after India cancelled his passport.
Mallya has repeatedly refused to appear before courts and investigators in India since he secretly fled to Britain last March, after defaulting on loan payments to state-owned banks and allegedly misusing the funds by rerouting them to tax havens. The extradition process from the UK involves a number of steps, including a decision by the judge whether to issue a warrant of arrest. In case of a warrant, the person is arrested and brought before the court for preliminary hearing followed by an extradition hearing before a final decision is taken by the secretary of state.