Industrialist Vijay Mallya informed the Bombay High Court that he is unsure of his return to India. Mallya is charged with multiple fraud and money laundering cases. His lawyer submitted a document to the court containing his recent statement. Amit Desai, the lawyer representing Mallya, stated that due to legal restrictions in the UK, Mallya is unable to specify any dates.
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The court was told that Mallya currently does not hold an active passport, as the Indian government cancelled it in 2016. Additionally, the courts of England and Wales have restricted him from leaving the country or possessing international travel documents. As a result, Mallya is unable to provide a timeline for returning to India.
HC names Mallya 'Fugitive Economic Offender'
Last week, a division bench of Chief Justice Shri Chandrasekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad had made it clear that if Mallya does not return, his petition challenging the order declaring him a "Fugitive Economic Offender" will not be heard. The court had asked whether he intended to return to India and when.
In response, a written statement was submitted on Mallya’s behalf. The 70-year-old businessman, currently residing in the UK, has filed two petitions in the High Court: one challenging the designation as a fugitive economic offender, and another questioning the constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offender Act.
Legal arguments and next steps
Mallya’s lawyer argued that the petitions could be heard even in his absence. He contended that under the law, once an accused person appears before the relevant court, prior orders lose their effect. Therefore, if Mallya comes to India and surrenders, the current relevance of the cases may be affected.
The High Court has directed the Centre to respond to Mallya’s statement, and the next hearing has been scheduled for next month.
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Ongoing extradition and financial dispute
It may be recalled that Mallya, accused of defaulting on loans worth thousands of crores and money laundering, was declared a fugitive economic offender by a special court in January 2019. India and the UK have been engaged in a prolonged legal battle over his extradition.
Mallya’s latest statement highlights the complex legal situation, where personal freedom, international obligations, and the country’s financial interests intersect.
