Non-bailable warrant against Mallya

DIAL had filed four cases against Mallya over Kingfisher's cheques totalling Rs 7.5 crore not being honoured

In more trouble for the promoter of defunct Kingfisher Airlines, Vijay Mallya, a metropolitan court in suburban Andheri here today issued a non bailable warrant (NBW) against him in a case of cheque bouncing filed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Earlier, on May 7, 2016  Magistrate A A Laulkar had directed Mallya to appear before the court today failing which the court wouldissue a NBW against him.

The NBW was issued following Mallya’s non appearance today. The court was hearing applications filed by AAI against M/s. Kingfisher Airlines in connection with two cheques of Rs 100 crores which were dishonoured by Mallya’s airline.

The two applications filed by AAI sought cancellation of permanent exemption from court appearance granted to Mallya, who has since left the country amid an outcry over Kingfisher airline defaulting on repayment of over Rs 9,000 crore to the banks, and sought an arrest warrant against him.

Earlier, AAI’s lawyer had argued in the court that in view of cancellation of Mallya's passport, his lawyer may not be able to produce him in the court if the court orders so. Meanwhile, a Delhi court today fixed August 6 for hearing a cheque bounce case against Mallya by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL).

The court, which had summoned Mallya as accused, fixed the matter for the next date after it was told by the counsel appearing for the businessman that its summoning order had been challenged before the High Court (HC).

Earlier, the trial court had summoned Mallya as accused following a complaint by DIAL, which operates the capital’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), claiming that a cheque for Rs 1 crore issued by Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) on February 22, 2012 was returned to them a month later containing remarks “fund insufficient”.

DIAL had filed four cases in June 2012 against Mallya over Kingfisher’s cheques totalling Rs 7.5 crore not being honoured. The grounded Kingfisher airline had issued the cheques towards payment for services availed by them at the IGI airport in New Delhi.