Businessman Vijay Mallya, who is facing extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom and against whom the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently invoked the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance (FEOO), has indicated that he may come back to India, said an agency source.
While no official communication has been received from Mr. Mallya so far in this regard, the ED is learnt to have received inputs that he has shown the intent to come back to India to face the law in connection with the alleged wilful bank loan default cases against him. “We have information that he may return,” said an official.
The development comes days before the next hearing on India’s request for Mr. Mallya’s extradition on July 31.
A few weeks ago, the ED moved an application before a Special Court in Mumbai seeking issuance of a notice against Mr. Mallya under the FEOO and confiscation of assets worth ₹12,500 crore purportedly linked to him if he did not turn up. Accordingly, the court issued a notice seeking his presence on August 27.
A certified copy of the notice is now with the Ministry of External Affairs to be sent to the United Kingdom and served on the beleaguered businessman.