Fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya can be extradited to India to face fraud investigations, a court in the UK ruled on Monday. Chief Magistrate of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London, Judge Emma Arbuthnot ordered Vijay Mallya’s extradition, in a major boost to India’s efforts to bring back the 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss.
Vijay Mallya is wanted in India for defaulting on Rs. 9,000 crore in loans to his failed Kingfisher Airlines. There was no sign of a false case being mounted against him, UK judge Emma Arbuthnot said. Calling it a great day for India, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tweeted: “No one who cheats India will go scot-free.”
India expressed “deep satisfaction” over a UK court judgement which ordered Vijay Mallya’s extradition after concluding that the ‘flashy billionaire’ does have a case to answer in the Indian courts over substantial “misrepresentations” of his financial dealings.
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India will continue to work with the British government for “expeditious” implementation of the court order. “We express our deep satisfaction at the judgement and note that justice has been delivered today. We thank the UK authorities for their help in this matter,” Mr Kumar said.