'Working on Mallya's extradition to enable him to face justice': Jayant Sinha

Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha on Thursday said the government is working on the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya from Britain, who is on a run after owing more than Rs 9,000 crores to the banks.

Sinha told ANI the government has filed for Mallya's extradition from the United Kingdom, adding it is a lengthy legal process.

"We have filed for extradition; it is lengthy legal process that has to be approved by the UK judicial system," he said.

"On our end we will do everything possible, and hopefully, we will be able to enable him to face justice in India," he added.

The Enforcement Directorate, which has been probing Mallya, had also issued a non-bailable warrant against him.

The agency alleges that out of the Rs. 900 crore loan taken from IDBI Bank in 2009, Rs 430 crore had allegedly been dispatched illegally outside the country. Both the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation are probing Mallya for the Rs 9,000 crore loan scam.

Mallya had taken this amount as loan from several banks in order to pay dues of his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

Despite Mallya's visa getting cancelled by the Indian government recently, the liquor baron has managed to stay on in the United Kingdom.