In fresh trouble for businessman Vijay Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday approached the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai seeking issuance of non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him in connection with the Rs 900-crore loan default case.
An official, on the condition of anonymity, told The Asian Age that an application seeking issuance of NBW has been moved before the special PMLA court and this application would be heard on Saturday.
According to the official, three summons have been issued to Mallya by the agency in connection with the investigation into money laundering in the Rs 900 crore IDBI loan default case.
In the agency’s third summons to Mallya, he was asked to appear before it by April 9. However, he did not comply with any of the summons issued by the ED, and instead sought time till May to depose before the officials.
The agency had first issued summons to Mallya asking him to appear in person in its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2.
The investigating officer of this matter had received a communication from Mallya on April 9, saying that he would not be able to depose personally as scheduled because of the ongoing legal proceedings in the Supreme Court over settlement of loans.
According to sources, while seeking extension Mallya had informed the ED that cases related to bank loans were currently sub-judice in the Supreme Court and he was trying to settle these loans with the help of his legal and corporate team and, hence, would require some more time to come before the agency.
The ED has registered a money laundering case against Mallya and others based on an FIR registered last year by the CBI. The agency is also investigating the financial structure of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines and looking into payment of any kickbacks to secure loans.
The liquor baron is reported to be in the UK after he left India on March 2.
