Vijay Mallya rearrested and bailed, refuses to agree to extradition
The 61-year-old liquor baron was rearrested in London in connection with supplemental money laundering charges pressed by India.
india Updated: Oct 03, 2017 20:48 IST
Hindustan Times, London
Controversial Indian businessman Vijay Mallya was arrested again in London on Tuesday and bailed until December 4 on a new charge of money laundering brought by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The 61-year-old liquor baron, who appeared in court, said “No” to the chief magistrate’s query on whether he agreed to be extradited to India. The next hearing is scheduled for November 20.
A visibly pleased Mallya said after the hearing that he was facing many “extraordinary charges” but asked journalists to wait for the court’s ruling at the end of the extradition trial scheduled to begin on December 4.
The Crown Prosecution Service, which acts on behalf of the Indian government, described the day’s development thus: “The government of India laid further supplemental money laundering charges in India. The money laundering charge and the evidence in support has been joined to the original fraud charges.
“The new charge is essentially showing where the money went to, for example, it is alleged that some of the funds ended up with the Force India racing team.
“As the new charge of money laundering effectively joined up with the existing fraud charges, the legal process included re-certification of the extradition request by the Home Office and a re-arrest of Dr Mallya, which was done before a case management hearing this afternoon (3 October 2017).”
The statement added, “The existing timetable was adopted and Dr Mallya was bailed to 4 December when his extradition hearing is listed to begin at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.”
Mallya was arrested earlier this year and bailed until December 4 - the same date has been set for the latest bail granted on Tuesday.
The hearing on December 4 is estimated to last eight days and the judge may make a decision on India’s extradition request at the conclusion of the hearing, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
