Vijay Mallya loses UK High Court appeal, clock set for extradition

Vijay Mallya's fate is now with the UK government.

Embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya lost a crucial appeal against his extradition to India on Monday, with the UK High Court ruling that the ex-boss of Kingfisher Airlines did have a prima facie case to answer in the Indian courts over the alleged Rs 9,000-crore fraud associated with loans sought from Indian banks for his now defunct airline.
 

The dismissal of the High Court appeal effectively clears the decks for Mallya’s extradition to India to face the charges in the Indian courts, with 14 days for him to apply for permission to appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

If he does apply, the UK Home Office would wait for the outcome of that appeal. But if he does not, under the India-UK Extradition Treaty, it would then be expected to formally certify the court order for the 64-year-old Mallya to be extradited to India within 28 days.

“It is a significant achievement in continuing war against economic fugitives who have been managing to stay away from the judicial process,” CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said.