If Vijay Mallya requests asylum, don't consider it: India urges UK

If Vijay Mallya requests asylum, do not consider it, India urged the United Kingdom on Thursday (June 11), a week after the British High Commission had said the fugitive liquor baron would not be extradited to India anytime soon due to a legal issue.

In an online media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said India had been in touch with authorities in the UK for early extradition of Mallya, who was expected to be flown back to Mumbai last week. However, the CBI has said it was not clear whether Mallya has sought asylum in the UK, NDTV reported.

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A spokesperson of the British High Commission had said the former business tycoon could be extradited only after the legal issue was resolved. Mallya had lost his appeal at the UK Supreme Court last month against his extradition to India, where he owes ₹9,961 crore to a consortium of banks.

On April 20, the United Kingdom High Court dismissed a plea filed by Mallya against his extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering related to unrecovered loans to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Two weeks later, he filed an application seeking leave to appeal in the Court. However, he lost his application on May 7.