Vijay Mallya Still Evading Indian Law, Asset Recovery Doesn’t End Money Laundering Case: ED to Bombay HC
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has told the Bombay High Court that former liquor baron Vijay Mallya continues to evade the legal process in India, arguing that the recovery of bank dues does not bring an end to the money laundering case against him.
The agency made the submission in an affidavit filed on September 8 in response to a petition Mallya filed in 2020 seeking the closure of criminal proceedings against him. Mallya had argued that his dispute with the banks had effectively been resolved after his outstanding debts were recovered.
The ED, however, maintained that the recovery of assets and the criminal proceedings are separate matters.
₹14,131.6 crore worth of assets transferred to banks
According to the ED, movable and immovable properties valued at ₹14,131.6 crore have been handed over to the consortium led by the State Bank of India (SBI) for recovery of dues.
The agency stressed that this recovery does not automatically cancel or result in the withdrawal of the money laundering charges against Mallya.
The ED further told the court that Mallya left India in March 2016 and did not appear before the investigating agency despite repeated summons. A non-bailable warrant was also issued against him, according to the affidavit.
In November 2016, Mallya was declared a proclaimed offender.
ED says Mallya has not returned to India
The agency told the Bombay High Court that Mallya continues to remain outside the reach of the Indian legal system and has not returned to face the criminal proceedings.
“Applicant (Mallya) continues to evade the process of law and has not returned to India or submitted himself to the jurisdiction of the competent criminal court,” the ED said in its affidavit.
The agency also pointed out that the High Court had previously sought clarity on whether Mallya intended to return to India and appear before the court.
According to the ED, his responses to those queries did not provide any clear assurance that he would return and submit himself to the jurisdiction of the Indian courts.
The latest submission comes as the Bombay High Court considers Mallya’s plea seeking closure of the criminal cases against him, despite the recovery of assets and repayment of bank dues.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
