Vijay for government as London court says Mallya can be sent home

LONDON: In a landmark success for Indian investigating agencies and a political boost to the Modi government, a UK judge on Monday ordered extradition of controversial businessman Vijay Mallya to India where he is wanted to face charges of fraud and money laundering.

Mallya, who fled the country in March 2016 in the wake of rising heat over his Rs 9,000 crore bank defaults, lost a key legal battle with the UK court rejecting allegations that the CBI and ED were working on political directions and he was being framed in a false case.



Judge Emma Arbuthnot told Mallya, 62, at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, “I am ordering your extradition.” But she added, “You may have a long process in front of you,” referring to his appeal rights even as she rejected Mallya’s plea that he was victim of a witch-hunt. He remains on conditional bail.

The case will now be sent to the home secretary for a decision on whether to order his extradition. However, Mallya can appeal in the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court and even the European Court of Justice, depending on how Brexit plays out. He said his legal team would review the verdict and consider options. Arbuthnot, however, made it clear that the CBI had a solid case against the businessman, rejecting his entire defence.