Safe in UK, no grounds for extradition to India: Mallya
Synopsis
Mallya was seen at an event in the UK promoting a new Formula One car. He moved to the UK in March last year after different banks sued him over large outstanding loan owed by Kingfisher.
Recently, Vijay Mallya, the ₹9000 crores loan defaulter was seen at an event in the UK promoting a new Formula One car that has been launched by his team Sahara Force India. A relaxed looking Mallya was seen with his two drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon despite being one the radar of Indian government that is in talks with UK government his extradition over charges of multi-crore loan default.
Mallya also spoke to Reuters and stated that the Indian authorities do not have the ground to extradite him from the UK and that he would not leave that country. The liquor baron moved to the UK after different banks sued him for recovering the large unpaid loan owed by his airline Kingfisher. The government of India wants Mallya to face the court trial for the charges of fraud and conspiracy over the outstanding loans.
Ever since, Vijay Mallya’s escape to London last year, he has refused to leave the country and attending his meetings through video conferencing. He was quoted by Reuters as saying, “I am safe in this country under U.K. laws, until proven otherwise. And I would rather be safe than sorry because I certainly do not want to be at the mercy of some maverick in the government of India.”
About India’s ongoing extradition efforts to bring back Mallya he said, “There is a requirement for legal and judicial determination here in the U.K., let them come with whatever evidence they have -- but I doubt if they have any evidence -- and then let the law take its own course.”