In a set back to India’s effort to get Vijay Mallya back in the country, the United Kingdom has now declined to deport him back to India. It has, however, agreed to assist if India considers his extradition through legal procedures.
“The UK government has informed us that under 1971 Immigration Act, the UK does not require an individual to hold a valid passport in order to remain in the UK, if they have extant leave to remain, as long as their passport was valid, or enter UK was conferred. At the same time,UK acknowledges the seriousness of allegations and is keen to assist the Government of India,” Vikas Swarup, Spokesperson for Ministry of External Affairs, said on Wednesday, reports Business Standard.
Despite his Indian passport being revoked by the External Affairs Ministry on April 24, Mallya has a valid UK residency permit since 1992 because of which is is not possible to deport him. But sensing the gravity of the loan default and money laundering cases against him, British authorities asked India to consider his extradition under the 1993 treaty with India or any other necessary assistance under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) signed in 1992, reports The Hindu.
Vijay Mallya who is accused of loan defaults worth over Rs 9,000 crore from various banks has been living in UK since March 2, and has ignored several orders by banks to return to India and cooperate with the investigation.
On April 29, the government of India formally asked for Mallya’s deportation. He had resigned from Rajya Sabha on May 2, after the Ethics Panel of the Upper House recommended his expulsion.
(Feature image source: AFP)
