Mallya entered UK on valid passport, can't be deported: Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said the UK has turned down India's request for deportation of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, but added that he can be extradited once a chargesheet is filed against him.

Jaitley, who is Leader of House in Rajya Sabha, was speaking after Janata Dal-United (JD-U) member Sharad Yadav raised the issue in the house.

"Government has said we will get him back. UK has clearly denied it and said there is no question of sending him back. This man took so many things from here and government was sleeping," Yadav said.

Jaitley, in response, said that his deportation was sought by the investigative agencies, but was turned down by the UK.

"Investigative agencies are probing the wrongdoings. In course of the investigation, since his diplomatic passport has been cancelled, the investigative agencies sought his deportation," Jaitley informed the elders.

The minister, clarifying that he is still collecting information, said: "What I have got to know so far is that deportation is not allowed when a person entered on a valid passport and then the passport is cancelled."

"The process is that when a chargesheet is filed, we seek extradition. It is another legal process," he said.

Jaitley added the UK has done it in the past as well.

The British government has turned down India's request to deport Mallya and has called for requesting mutual legal assistance or extradition.

"They have asked the Indian government to consider requesting mutual legal assistance or extradition," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a statement on Wednesday.

Mallya was a member of Rajya Sabha before he sent his resignation last week. The resignation came as the ethics committee of the upper house had recommended that he should be expelled.

--IANS

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