Mumbai, February 18 – In a significant development at the Bombay High Court, fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya expressed his inability to return to India due to ongoing restrictions imposed by UK courts. During Tuesday’s hearing on two crucial petitions filed by Mallya, his legal team informed the bench that they could not specify a timeline for his return, citing judicial orders preventing him from leaving England.
The matter came before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Chandrashankar and Justice Gautam Ankhad. Mallya’s petitions challenge his declaration as a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) and related orders labeling him a fugitive. Senior advocate Amit Desai, representing Mallya, argued that Supreme Court precedents allow hearings even in the absence of the petitioner. He highlighted that extradition proceedings against Mallya are still underway in England, binding him to stay put under court directives.
However, the Chief Justice questioned Mallya’s sincerity about appearing in court. The bench pointed out that while Mallya references UK court orders, there’s no clarity on whether he has appealed those restrictions. The court viewed this as a potential excuse to delay proceedings.
Directing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to file a response to Mallya’s affidavit, the bench mandated that all statements made during the hearing be formalized as sworn affidavits for the record. This will enable the central government to submit its reply. Noting that the petitions have lingered since 2019 with little urgency from Mallya’s side, the court granted three weeks for further steps. The next hearing is scheduled for March 11.
This case underscores the protracted legal battle surrounding Mallya, once a prominent figure in India’s aviation sector, now embroiled in massive loan default allegations exceeding Rs 9,000 crore linked to Kingfisher Airlines. Creditors, led by public sector banks, continue to pursue recovery amid international extradition efforts. The Bombay High Court’s push for affidavits signals a move toward expediting resolution, potentially influencing parallel proceedings in other forums.