India seeks Vijay Mallya's extradition from UK

Move comes days after the ministry revoked Mallya's diplomatic passport

The Ministry of External Affairs has written to the British High Commission seeking the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Thursday.

The move comes days after the ministry revoked the diplomatic passport of Mallya after he failed to turn up for a probe into a Rs.9,000 crore default of loans from Indian banks.

Mallya is currently in Britain.

In a related development, the ED on Wednesday urged a Delhi court to recall its earlier order granting permanent exemption from personal appearance to liquor baron Vijay Mallya in a case for allegedly evading summons issued by the agency in connection with purported violation of foreign exchange rules.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Sumit Dass, who was hearing final arguments in the case, was told by Enforcement Directorate (ED's) prosecutor N K Matta that he would file an appropriate application in this regard within a week.

The court posted the matter for further hearing on May 20.

The ED has also decided to make a formal request to the National Central Bureau, a division of Interpol in India, to issue a red corner notice against Mallya.

The move came after CS Vaidyanathan, Mallya's counsel, told the Supreme Court that the liquor baron did not plan to return because he might be taken straight to Tihar jail from the airport.