Vijay Mallya's extradition trial to begin in London

NewsBharati    04-Dec-2017
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London, December 4: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya will today attend his extradition trial in London. The trial is expected to continue on 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th of December. Mallya is wanted in India on loan defaults to several banks amounting to nearly Rs 9,000-crore.

Chief Magistrate at the Westminster Court Emma Arbuthnot will hear the case presented by Britain's Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the Indian government. Meanwhile, a team of CBI officials led by Special Director Rakesh Asthana will attend the trial at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
 
Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate has said that liquor baron Vijay Mallya laundered over Rs 1,300 crore through 13 shell companies in US, Ireland, Mauritius and France. The Enforcement Directorate had registered a criminal case in this deal last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and has attached assets worth over Rs 9,600 crore till now.

India’s case to bring back the 61-year old businessman will be represented through the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of the British government. The trial will be heard by Chief Magistrate Emma Louise Arbuthnot who, in a previous hearing, had highlighted prison conditions as a concern that has been raised in extraditions to India before.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian government, has told the court that the Indian authorities foresaw this as an issue and has been engaged on the matter.

India and the UK have an Extradition Treaty dating back to 1992 but so far only one extradition has taken place from the UK to India under the arrangement. Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel, wanted in connection with the post-Godhra riots of 2002, was extradited. But, unlike Mallya, he had submitted to the extradition order without a legal challenge.

Vijay Mallya Mallya extradition UK London court Money Laundering Corruption