The much-awaited extradition hearing of liquor baron Vijay Mallya is set to come in central London as extradition trial begins. He was arrest by Scotland Yard over fraud and money laundering charges. Over the next ten days, until December 14, Chief Magistrate at Westminster Magistrate’s Court, Emma Arbuthnot will hear the case of Maliya which is presented by Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the Indian government. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, out on a 650,000-pound bail bond following his arrest by Scotland Yard over fraud and money laundering charges, will return to Westminster Magistrates’ Court here Monday as his extradition trial begins.
The 61-year-old businessman, the owner of Kingfisher, has been in self-imposed exile in the UK since March 2016 after he left his country, India. He is now wanted in India on charges related to defunct Kingfisher Airlines defaulting on loans, amounting to Rs 9,000 crore from various Indian banks. Reportedly Mallya responds to media questions and said to everyone, please hear the proceedings.’
The extradition trial, to be presided by Arbuthnot as Judge, and listed for hearings for 10 days from today, with December 6 and 8 dates are marked as non-sitting days. However, the judgment in the Mallya case is not expected until early next year. Also, before the actual extradition order can be issued, the case can go through a series of court appeals. This ongoing extradition trial will determine that whether the Vijay Mallya can be legally forced to go back to face the Indian court or not.