More trouble for Vijay Mallya: Special court issues non-bailable arrest warrant against him; rejects KFA's plea against ED

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: In more trouble for beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya, a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Monday issued non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him in connection with a money laundering probe in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.

The special court also rejected Kingfisher's plea challenging ED's claim that Rs 430 crore was siphoned off and used to acquire properties abroad.

The special court had on Saturday reserved its order till today on the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea for a Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) in the money laundering case involving Mallya's alleged defrauding of the IDBI.

The ED has alleged that Mallya diverted Rs 430 crore for purchase of a property abroad from the Rs 950 crore of IDBI loan he took for his Kingfisher Airlines.

Government had also suspended the passposrt of Mallya last week, whose Kingfisher Airlines has defaulted on loans of over Rs 9,400 crores and who has been defying Enforcement Directorate summons, and even threatened to revoke it.

The 60-year-old industrialist, who has been in Britain for over a month, had skipped three summonses issued by the agency. He had also sought time till May to depose before the officials.

On April 9, in reply to the last summons, Mallya had informed the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case here that he will be unable to depose personally as scheduled citing the ongoing legal proceedings going in the Supreme Court over settlement of loans.

The agency had issued fresh summons in the first week of April to Mallya asking him to appear on April 9 after he sought two extensions from the earlier dates of March 18 and April 2 citing official reasons.

The officials said that while seeking extension Mallya had informed the ED that cases related to bank loans were currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court and he was trying to settle these loans with the help of his legal and corporate team and, hence, would require some more time.

Mallya was first summoned by the agency to "appear in person" at its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing his prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2.

Mallya was also directed by the Supreme Court to disclose all assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad by April 21.

The liquor baron is reported to be in the UK after he left India on March 2.

The ED has registered a money laundering case against Mallya and others based on an FIR registered last year by the CBI.

The agency is also investigating financial structure of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines and looking into any payment of kickbacks to secure loans. PTI VI DK RT

With Agency Inputs