Major boost to Indian agencies, UK court orders Vijay Mallya's extradition

Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crore, has been extradited by the the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London where his extradition case was heard on Monday.

Here are the top developments after the extradition hearing:

- A CBI spokesperson said: "We hope to bring him soon and conclude the case. CBI has its own inherent strengths. We worked hard on this case. We are strong on law and facts and we were confident while pursuing the extradition process."

- "It sets things in motion, he has got charges like siphoning & diverting funds. It is not just a case of repayment of money it also involves a lot of criminal deeds. He should face the music," Neetu Sharma, former Kingfisher employee told ANI after the UK court verdict.

- Mallya's extradition comes just a week after AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel was extradited by UAE.

- The matter of extradition of Vijay Mallya to India has now been referred to the Secretary of State of UK. The Westminster Court has ordered his extradition in a major victory for Indian agencies.

- UK court extradites Vijay Mallya to India in a major boost to Indian investigating agencies probing Mallya's case.

- ANI quoted Vijay Mallya outside the UK court as saying, "My employees are my first priority. In the last two years, we've made two separate applications to the court to use the money deposited in the court to pay employees. The court hasn't given us a decision. If the court accepts my settlement offer, pay the employees first."

- While appearing before the court, Vijay Mallya said "Whatever the judgment is, my legal team will review it and take appropriate action."

- Vijay Mallya also said that his desire to repay his debt, announced in a tweet last week, is genuine. Mallya said, "I want to disprove the narrative that I stole money. There is nothing ingenuine about my offer, I have made the offer before court of law. I won't disrespect the court by making a bogus offer."

- When asked if the recent extradition of AgustaWestland middleman Christian Michel had him worried, Mallya said that his and Michel's case were different and he had not known about Michel's extradition at the time of making a settlement offer.

The 62-year-old liquor baron is wanted in India for defaulting Indian banks to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore besides allegations of money laundering and diversion of funds. As pressure from banks mounted, Vijay Mallya fled the country for London on March 2, 2016. He allegedly succeeded in feeling India after dilution of a CBI lookout notice against him. Mallya's extradition would be a major boost to the Modi government as it faces general elections next year.

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The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss has been out on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year.

Last week Vijay Mallya took to social media with an offer to pay back 100 per cent of "public money" to various Indian banks and urged the government to accept his offer. Speaking about his offer, he said " Yes, I have tweeted that I want to repay public sector banks, private investors and employees but that has nothing to do with the extradition hearing. I have submitted my settlement application in the Karnataka High Court."

Arthur Road jail prepares to receive Vijay Mallya.

Meanwhile, authorities at the Arthur Road prison in Mumbai have kept a high security cell ready for liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya if he is extradited from UK in connection with loan default cases against him in India, an official said Monday.

If extradited, Mallya will be lodged in one of the high security barracks located in a two-storey building inside the prison complex, which also housed 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, a prison official said.

A high security cell has been kept ready at the jail located in central Mumbai, he said.

"We are fully prepared to lodge him safely at our correction centre. If he is brought here, we will take care of his safety and security," the official said.

Previously, a court in the UK asked Indian authorities to submit a video of the Arthur Road Jail cell where they plan to keep Mallya following his extradition.

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