Vijay Mallya makes final bid to avoid extradition; fugitive repeats out-of-court antics

Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya showcased customary brazenness as he left  Royal Courts of Justice in London, refusing to comment on ongoing case being heard on his extradition, his tried and tested demeaur t managing to mask desperate situation in which he currently finds himself. Once again he emerged at end of hearing, lit up, stood before cameras and said ' comment' to a host of questions.

Plea against Westminster magistrates court's judgment

Mallya had filed an appeal against Westminster magistrates court’s 2018 ruling which had cleared his extradition to India to face fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crore. On Tuesday, his defence team maintained that re is prima facie case against him in India to justify extradition as against Indian government's stand of major financial offences against Mallya. His lawyers have challenged Westminster magistrates court's ruling stating that re were multiple errors while understanding documents in court's judgment. 

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Justice Irwin and Justice Elisabeth Laing began a three-day appeal hearing against Westminster magistrates court’s 2018 ruling that confirmed re is a case for Mallya to answer in relation to loans taken in 2009, reby clearing his extradition.

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Tuesday is allotted for Mallya's lawyers to make ir arguments while Wednesday will be given to Crown Prosecution Service's lawyer on behalf of India to respond against Mallya's arguments while Thursday has been allocated to prounce judgment. Mallya's lawyer has argued that his failure to repay loans is t due to an alleged fraud but due to business failure and ecomic downturn that affected aviation industry at time.

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