After much speculation, Vijay Mallya might not be brought back ‘anytime soon’

Last updated on February 14th, 2023 at 11:04 am

The much-awaited extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya to India might not happen “anytime soon,” according to a senior Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Media went abuzz on 3 June carrying stories that Mallya, who now resides in the UK, will be brought back to Mumbai. One media outlet went ahead to report that the baron has already on board a flight.

The Indian ED and the CBI are chasing him as owes about Rs. 9000 crores to Indian banks.

According a reports in the Times of India, a senior diplomat with the Indian High Commission in the UK has shared that the fugitive businessman was neither to be brought back on 3 June or “anytime soon.”

Earlier the investigative teams had completed all the legal procedures required to bring the businessman.

According to reports, the British Home Secretary Priti Patel is yet to sign off Mallya’s extradition. There are also speculations that the flamboyant businessman might have or will apply for asylum. The delay to his extradition might be related to pending cases in the UK courts.

Mallya has defaulted in paying back Rs.9000 crore to 17 banks. The banks have filed cases against him.

Mallya has been residing in London since March 2016, has lost his appeal against extradition in UK’s top court on 14 May 2020.

The former parliamentarian is also engaged in a legal battle with Diageo over the payment of Rs. 303 crore that he received when he exited as the United Spirits chairman.

The former Rajya Sabha member, apart from owning United Spirits, also founded now-defunct Spicejet airlines.

Extradition arrangement between India and the UK is guided by the extradition treaty signed in 1997. As per this arrangement, an individual will be deported within 28 days of exhaustion of all legal options. Mallya’s deadline as per the treaty is till 11 June.

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Earlier in a tweet on 14 May, the businessman had tweeted that he will repay all the pending loans.

The CBI and ED have been investigating against him for the past five years and went through all the legal hurdles to bring him back.

The delay in his return has fueled further speculation that he might be applying for political asylum or might use mercy petition.