New Delhi: In what could be a massive breakthrough for the Indian government, London’s Westminster Magistrates Court on Monday ordered the extradition fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya to India.
The liquor baron, who has been accused of defrauding Indian banks of Rs 9000 crore, was presented in front of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court where the judge pronounced that he shall be extradited. Chief Magistrate Judge Emma Arbuthnot found prima facie a case against Vijay Mallya for fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.
62-year-old has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. He has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is “politically motivated” and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.
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“We were confident while pursuing the extradition process. We hope to bring him soon as that the case against him concludes. CBI has its own inherent strength. We worked hard on the case and we are strong on law and facts,” CBI spokesperson said.
CBI spokesperson on Vijay Mallya to be extradited to India: We hope to bring him soon and conclude the case. CBI has its own inherent strengths. We worked hard on this case. We are strong on Law and facts and we were confident while pursuing extradition process pic.twitter.com/OqL79Kl2N6
— ANI (@ANI) December 10, 2018
His extradition comes a few days after Augusta Westland middleman Christian Michel was extradited to India from Dubai. Following that, Mallya had taken to Twitter, offering to pay the loans while claiming innocence.
“I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud,” he tweeted before adding, “I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it.”