He has no intention to return: Court issues non-bailable warrant against Mallya

Mallya's claim that he wants to return but his passport has been revoked was malafide, says court

A Delhi court on Friday issued a non-bailable warrant against liquor baron Vijay Mallya for allegedly evading summons in a Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) violation matter.

The court said Mallya has scant regard for the law of the land and has no intention to return to India.

The court added that Mallya's claim that he wants to return to India but his passport has been revoked was malafide and abuse of the process.

The court was hearing a case filed against Mallya in connection with a cheque bounce case.

In August, the court asked Mallya to be present in the court on November 4. It has also asked the Ministry of External Affairs to send a non-bailable warrant to Mallya in London where he is currently staying.

GMR-led Delhi International Airport (DIAL), which operates the capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), had moved the Patiala House Court after three cheques, each for Rs 7.5 crore, issued by Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines were not honoured.

The grounded airline had issued the cheques towards payment for services availed by them at the IGIA here.

The Delhi High Court had also refused to quash summons issued by a trial court against Mallya.

In the High Court, Mallya's counsel had argued he was not involved in day-to-day affairs of Kingfisher Airlines, and could not be held liable in cases filed related to that company. But the court refused to quash the summons.