ED submits Vijay Mallya dossier to prosecuting agency
The ED is also in the process of hiring a lawyer for representing the authorities.
Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted a dossier on liquor baron Vijay Mallya as part of its probe against him under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to the United Kingdom’s Crown Prosecuting Agency (CPS). The CPS is a public prosecuting agency that will take ahead and hear Mallya’s extradition process. The ED is also in the process of hiring a lawyer for representing the authorities.
ED sources said that the dossier contains details of the complex web of shell companies, which Mallya used to remit over Rs 3,500 crore outside India. The funds were sent out under the pretext of payments of lease rentals-repairs and maintenance on which no proper lease agreements were provided. The agency had also found of irregularities in such payments.
“The dossier has details of his family members and employees in whose name the shell companies, with dummy directors were floated. Details of the movable and immovable assets identified by the agency has also been put forth the authorities there,” said an ED officer.
The CPS officials have been provided with the details of the case and how Mallya escaped from India amidst this.
The ED along with the officers of Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) Interpol wing also are in the process of hiring services of law firm for putting up a watertight case against Mallya. Mallya’s arrest by the Scotland Yard in April set the ball in motion for the extradition process. The CPS will now continue Mallya’s prosecution process.
The ED is also likely to file a chargesheet against Mallya in a few days, which will also tighten the noose against the fugitive businessman. ED has already attached assets worth around Rs 9,750 crore for defaulting on loan payments by Mallya to the consortium of 17 banks, led by the State Bank of India, from which loans were borrowed.
The latest action of ED was taking over of Mallya’s sprawling 17-acre farmhouse. The beach-facing farmhouse is located near Mandwa jetty in the Kolegaon village in Alibaug.