Vijay Mallya allowed to appeal against extradition order

The High Court of England and Wales has allowed Indian businessman Vijay Mallya to appeal against the extradition order passed against him in December last year..As per news reports, the Bench came to the conclusion that Vijay Mallya could appeal against at least one of the five grounds offered by him against the extradition order passed by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court..The Bench of Justices George Leggatt and Andrew Popplewell reportedly said that arguments can be reasonably made on some of Westminster Magistrates’ Court Chief Magistrate Judge Emma Arbuthnot’s conclusions in her prima facie case ruling..The judges reportedly did not agree with the Westminster Magistrates’ Court decision on the grounds of prima facie evidence. However, it rejected Mallya’s claims that there was a political conspiracy to prosecute him, that will not receive a fair trial in India, and that his human rights will be affected if he is lodged in Arthur Road jail..Barrister Clare Montgomery appeared for Mallya in the High Court..In April, the High Court of England and Wales has rejected the written appeal filed by Mallya challenging the extradition order passed against him in December. Mallya then filed a renewal application, which has been ultimately accepted the High Court..The Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London in December ordered the extradition of Vijay Mallya,wanted in India on charges of cheating and money laundering. The Court in London ruled that Mallya can be sent to India to face fraud charges. Subsequently, UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid signed the extradition order on February 4..Among the allegations levelled against Mallya by the Indian government were conspiracy to defraud, making of false representations, and money laundering. After perusing the evidence, the Court found that there was a prima facie case of all three charges levelled against Mallya..The Court ultimately refused to buy arguments made by Mallya on the bias of the Indian press, the independence of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as well as the independence of the judiciary..Image taken from here.