Delhi court adjourns hearing on ED's plea against Mallya

Hearing adjourned till May 28; court directs Mallya's lawyer to file original reply, duly signed, by that date

A Delhi court on Friday adjourned the hearing on the Enforcement Directorate's plea seeking to withdraw the exemption granted to beleaguered liquor baron Vijay Mallya from personal appearance in a case of allegedly evading summons in connection with purported violation of the Foreign Exchange Rules.

The hearing in this case has been adjourned till May 28.

A copy of Mallya's reply, signed by his lawyers, has been filed today.

The court directed Mallya's lawyer to file the original reply signed by Mallya by the next date of hearing.

The Enforcement Directorate's plea also sought issuance of a non-bailable warrant against the chairman of defunct Kingfisher Airlines to secure his presence in the ongoing trial of the case.

Mallya, currently in Britain, is accused of defaulting on payment of bank loans totalling in excess of Rs 9,000 crore.

The Centre had earlier revoked Mallya's diplomatic passport and told the Supreme Court that it would soon initiate court proceedings and approach the British Government for his extradition.

The Enforcement Directorate last month obtained a non-bailable warrant against Mallya from a Mumbai court in a money laundering case.