New Delhi, Feb 10: A Delhi court has denied further opportunity to Rajya Sabha MP and chief of UB Group Vijay Mallya, facing charges of non-compliance with a summons issued by Enforcement Directorate (ED) to be examined as a witness in the case, after he failed to turn up in court for a third time. Noting that Mallya had not appeared before it on the previous two dates of hearing too, additional chief metropolitan magistrate V K Maheshwari ordered closure of defence evidence and fixed March 17 for final arguments.
Mallya himself had prayed the court to be examined as a defence witness in the case. The court had permitted his plea.
However, the liquor baron failed to appear in court despite two chances given to him. While the first time he cited parliamentary engagements to pray for personal exemption, on the next date for hearing, the Bangalore-based MP took the plea that he could not reach the capital on time.
Allowing his prayer, the court fixed February 7 as last chance for recording the evidence.
However, Mallya's counsel again prayed for exemption from appearance, forcing the ED to oppose the plea saying the accused was intentionally seeking adjournments to delay the case.
The court had framed charges against Mallya in August last year, saying there was a "prima facie" evidence against him in the case.
The liquor baron, ED alleged, had violated provisions of FERA while arranging funds for advertising his products abroad in agreement with Benetton Formula Ltd, UK, a few years ago and issued him summons for examination. However, Mallya denied the charges that he had not complied with the summons. Bureau Report