India writes to Britain for Mallya's extradition

After having revoked his passport last week, India on Thursday wrote to Britain seeking the extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

"As of today the (external affairs) ministry has written to the high commission of the United Kingdom in Delhi requesting for the deportation of Vijay Mallya so that his presence can be secured for investigations against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media briefing here.

"Our high commission in the UK will also be issuing a similar note verbale to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office," he said.

Mallya is currently in Britain.

Thursday's 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.

A beleaguered Mallya on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that he would not come to India to be arrested, leading to the apex court directing that details of his, his estranged wife, and children's overseas assets be given to the consortium of 13 banks, seeking the recovery of the over Rs.9,000 crore loaned to his now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines.

A bench of Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman directed its registry to furnish the contents of the overseas assets to the court in a sealed cover to be given to the banks, after counsel for Mallya said if his client came back, he "will be taken to Tihar Jail" and when his "liberty is at stake", how can he be expected to return.

In his media briefing, Swarup said Mallya's passport was revoked last week in view of these investigations and the non-bailable warrant issued by a special judge in Mumbai.

"We will continue to pursue this matter with the United Kingdom authorities," the spokesman said.

--IANS

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