London, February 5: Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya decided to initiate the appeal process after the UK Home Office approved his extradition to India on Monday. After the order, Mallya tweeted saying, “After the decision was handed down on Dec 10, 2018, by Westminster Magistrates Court, I stated my intention to appeal. I couldn’t initiate the appeal process before a decision by Home Secretary. Now I’ll initiate the appeal process”. Mallya has 14 days from Monday to apply for leave to appeal.
On Monday, UK’s Home Secretary signed an order approving that Mallya will be extradited to India to face trial for alleged fraud and money laundering amounting to Rs. 9,000 crore. “Vijay Mallya is accused in India of conspiracy to defraud, making false representations and money laundering offences,” the order read.
Here’s Mallya’s tweet:
After the decision was handed down on December 10,2018 by the Westminster Magistrates Court, I stated my intention to appeal. I could not initiate the appeal process before a decision by the Home Secretary. Now I will initiate the appeal process.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 4, 2019
UK home office spokesperson on Monday informed that the Secretary of State on February 3 had considered all relevant matters and had signed the order for Mallya’s extradition to India. According to reports, government sources in India said that the completion of the legal process is awaited for the extradition of the fugitive liquor baron. “We have taken note of the decision of the UK Home Secretary to sign on the order for Vijay Mallya’s extradition to India. While we welcome the UK Government’s decision in the matter, we await the early completion of the legal process for his extradition,” a source was quoted by ANI.
The 63-year old businessman had fled from India in March 2016 and has been living in the United Kingdom since then. The Indian government has made several efforts since then for the extradition of Mallya, who is wanted for loan frauds, money laundering and other economic offences. Reports inform that a major breakthrough was achieved on December 10 when the Westminster Magistrate’s Court found merit in the charges registered against Mallya in India and approved his extradition.
