Vijay Mallya skips E D hearing; seeks extension till May
NEW DELHI: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya did not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday and has sought a new date in the end of May According ti News Agency ANI..
Earlier, the ED had issued fresh summons to former UB group chairman and liquor baron Vijay Mallya, asking him to appear before April 9 in connection with a money laundering probe in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.
Officials said Mallya has informed the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case in Mumbai that he will be unable to depose personally as scheduled today citing the ongoing legal proceedings going in the Supreme Court over settlement of loans.
However, it is understood that the liquor baron has suggested his legal team can help ED in taking the probe forward. According to PTI, sources did not immediately comment as to what next step the agency will take now as he has sought time till May, a request he made to the IO last week too and which was turned down.”The next action will be decided in due course,” they said.
Mallya, who is wanted by the law enforcing agencies for a default of over Rs 9, 000 crores, on April 2 did not appear before the ED after he sought an extension up to May.This is the third time that Mallya had sought an extension from the ED.
Mallya was first summoned by the agency to “appear in person” at its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing his prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2.
On Thursday, Mallya had been directed by the Supreme Court to disclose the total assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad by April 21.
The apex court also sought an indication from him when he will appear before it.It asked Mallya to deposit a “substantial amount” with it to “prove his bonafide” that he was “serious” about meaningful negotiations and settlement.
The directions by the bench, comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman, came after a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India “unanimously rejected” the proposal in the current form offered by Mallya and his companies to pay Rs 4,000 crore by September towards the settlement of his loan.
The bench agreed with the consortium that Mallya’s presence was necessary in the country to show his bona fides that he was serious about settling his dues.
