Fugitive Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya’s appeal against extradition is coming up for hearing in the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Mallya had filed an appeal against a magistrate’s court order to extradite him to India in February last year. Mallya has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April 2017.
The Royal Courts of Justice in London will hear Mallya’s appeal against the magistrate’s order which was signed by UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid. The tainted liquor baron is facing criminal charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to Rs. 9,000 crores.
Last year, a two-member High Court bench comprising Justices George Leggatt and Andrew Popplewell that reasonable arguments can possibly be made on certain aspects of the prima facie case ruling by Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot’s December 2018 extradition order.
Advocate Clare Montgomery representing Vijay Mallya had questioned Justice Arbuthnot’s findings in accepting Indian authorities’ assertions that his client made misrepresentations to Indian banks and cheated them of money. Mallya asserted his innocence and told reporters that he felt vindicated by the court ruling and affirmed his resolve to pay back the money he owed to Indian banks.
Listed for three days until Thursday, Mallya’s appeal will come up for a full hearing this week, a verdict is expected soon after or at a later date.
