Bombay HC dismisses Mallya’s plea for interim relief against confiscation of assets

MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Thursday dismissed an application by founder of defunct Kingfisher Airlines Vijay Mallya for interim relief to protect his assets from confiscation and sale till his main petition challenging constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEO) Act invoked against him.
The 63-year-old erstwhile liquor baron, Mallya, through his counsel Amit Desai asked the high court that whatever orders may be passed by the authorities or special court under the FEO Act be made subject to the final outcome of his petition pending before the high court to test the constitutional validity of the new law and the FEO tag on him.
His plea said, “unless interim reliefs, as sought”, are granted, not only Mallya’s but also the rights of creditors and third parties would be put to “grave and irreparable harm and prejudice.”
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed his plea. It’s counsel opposed his plea. The ED stance was that if relief granted he would use it before the lower court where matters are pending.
Mallya left India in 2016 and is the first to be declared FEO under the new law. He has challenged orders of his extradition before higher judiciary in London where he continues to remain.