Congress demands PM Modi's intervention in Mallya tax evasion case

A day after the Mumbai court issued a non-bailable warrant against Kingfisher Airlines owner Vijay Mallya for 1,000 crore service tax evasion, the Congress on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene into the matter and convince other countries to confiscate the properties of such defaulters.

"What we are dealing is with the tip of an iceberg, real assets have been all assembled all over the globe. I think it is important that the Prime minister during his travel connects with all countries where these assets have been placed at the cost of our exchequer. These governments must be told that this fugitive is wanted by law in India and his property should be confiscated and given back to India," Congress leader Tom Vadakkan told ANI.

A Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Mumbai had yesterday issued a non bailable warrant against Mallya and his company's chief executive Sanjay Aggarwal. The court summoned Mallya thrice before issuing the warrant.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also attached properties worth Rs 6, 630 crores in connection with its money laundering probe.

Earlier on July 25, the apex court issued a notice to Mallya on a plea from the consortium of banks which alleged that he had not disclosed his full assets.

A consortium of 17 banks led by the State bank of India (SBI) had approached the Supreme Court to recover around Rs. 9,500 crore which are yet to be addressed.

Mallya flew to London on March 2, just days before a consortium of lenders knocked the Supreme Court's doors to recover the debt.