UK High Court rejects Vijay Mallya written appeal against extradition order

The High Court of England and Wales has rejected the written appeal filed by liquor baron Vijay Mallya challenging the extradition order passed against him in December.

As per news reports, the plea was rejected by Justice William Davis of the High Court. Mallya now has the option to apply for oral hearing within five days. The renewal application will be listed before a High Court judge.

If the renewal is accepted, an oral hearing will take place, during which Mallya can present his case. The Court will then determine whether a full hearing should take place.

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.

Three allegations were levelled against Mallya by the Indian government – 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.

The extradition order passed by the Court was later signed off by the Home Secretary of the UK.

Back home, the Supreme Court issued notice in a petition filed by Mallya challenging the Enforcement Directorate’s move to declare him as a Fugitive Economic Offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. Proceedings in that matter are ongoing in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (Appellate) Tribunal.