UK court orders fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's extradition to India

A United Kingdom court has ordered the extradition of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to India to face charges of financial irregularities running into thousands of crores. Mallya had fled to London in March 2016. Former Kingfisher Airlines boss Mallya now has 14 days to appeal against the decision.

The verdict was delivered by chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot. “…The conduct would constitute the offences of making false representations to make a gain for himself, conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. The conduct is punishable in India by imprisonment longer than 12 months,” the verdict said.

Judge Arbuthnot also added in the order that the case would be forwarded to the home secretary of the UK to decide whether or not to order Mallya’s extradition.

“We welcome the decision and we are awaiting the official court order,” a CBI spokesperson said. The verdict comes as a windfall for India’s investigation agencies which have charged Mallya with defrauding on loans of up to ₹9,000 crore.

While a team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials are present in the UK for the hearing, Mallya is likely to appeal against the verdict within the next fortnight—a process that can run into months.

“Whatever the judgement, my legal team will reveal the judgment and take proper steps thereafter. Yes I have tweeted saying that I want to repay, that has nothing to do with this extradition issue. It’s a completely separate matter,” Mallya told the press this morning while entering the court premises.

Mallya also said that he has not stolen anyone’s money and his offer to pay back the loan amount of banks is not a bogus one.

Mallya has, in the past, challenged his extradition on grounds of “human rights conditions” in Indian jails. At the same time, he has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is “politically motivated” and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.

The matter first came to light when CBI, following a complaint by the State Bank of India (SBI), registered a case against Mallya in August 2016.

In June 2017, the ED filed a chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) alleging that Mallya fled to the UK on 2 March 2016 as a consortium of 13 banks, led by the State Bank of India closed in on him, with Mallya owing ₹9,000 crore.