Mallya says charges against him false and fabricated ; Extradition trial begins
London, Dec 4 (IBNS) : Beleaguered business tycoon Vijay Mallya said all charges brought against him are "false and fabricated" as his extradition trial began at the Westminster Magistrates' Court here on Monday.
"I have said repeatedly that the charges are false, fabricated and baseless. I have nothing to say, submissions in court will be self evident, " media reports quoted Mallya as saying ahead of appearing before the London court. .
The 61-year-old businessman, who has been in self-imposed exile in the UK since March 2016 when he left India, is wanted in India on charges relating to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines defaulting on loans from various Indian banks amounting to Rs 9,000 crore.
The trial is set to open with opening arguments, followed by the witness statement of Dr B Humphreys, who is an aviation expert.
The charges against him are being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.
India’s bid to bring back Vijay Mallya will be carried out through the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of the British government in Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London.
A team of CBI officials, led by Special Director Rakesh Asthana will be present during the court proceedings.
According to reports, some key witnesses are likely to be produced during the trial for his extradition.
Mallya was arrested by Scotland Yard over a fraud case but was later granted bail by fulfilling a a 650,000-pound bail bond.
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