Fraud, conspiracy and money laundering: these are the three charges prima facie made out against fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya whose extradition has been ordered by a UK court on Monday.
The CBI team, led by joint director A. Sai Manohar, has achieved yet another success after last week’s extradition of Christian Michel, accused middleman in the Rs 3,700 crore AgustaWestland deal. Sai Manohar, who is leading the Indian team camping in London consisting of officials of CBI and Enforcement Directorate, had last week returned from Dubai with Christian Michael in their custody.
CBI sources said the UK court judgement ordering Mallya’s extradition has paved way for his trial in an Indian court on these three charges which is a big win for the investigating agency. Indian investigators has been on the fugitive’s trail for alleged bank fraud amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crore, conspiracy, and subsequent money laundering.
“Normally, when an extradition is ordered, it could be on a single count of fraud, but the court has admitted the evidence put forth by Indian investigators on all three counts ,” said an official involved in the case .
Also read
- Vijay Mallya sentenced to four months in prison in contempt case
- SC gives final opportunity to Vijay Mallya to appear before it in contempt case
- Waited sufficiently long, can't be waiting any longer for Vijay Mallya: SC
- Bankruptcy, extradition, but Vijay Mallya's next big worry is 'brewing' at UB Group
- UK High Court declares Vijay Mallya bankrupt
Manohar’s success would mean much for the CBI as Mallya’s extradition has come at a time when the reputation of the agency has hit a nadir with the infighting between the top bosses—director Alok Verma and his second in command, special director Rakesh Asthana—forcing the government to intervene and order their externment.
Manohar was part of the special investigation team (SIT) under Asthana which came under cloud as allegations were levelled against Asthana and the team for alleged “corruption” and “working under political influence” which were used by Mallya to urge the court to dismiss the charges made out against him by the CBI.
Sources in investigating agency said Mallya told the court that the CBI probe team is under cloud and its findings mala fide, but the court turned down his plea saying the evidence was sufficient in the case against him to order his extradition.
Asthana, who has been handling the case in the UK till now on behalf of the CBI, has got a breather of sorts as his probe team’s investigation has been given a clean chit in the UK court. After Asthana was made to sit out by the government, it was Manohar who was asked to lead the team to the UK to pursue the case slated for hearing in the Westminster Magistrates court on Monday.
Soon after the verdict, a CBI spokesperson said,”We welcome the decision and hope to bring Vijay Mallya back soon. CBI has its own inherent strengths. We worked hard on this case. CBI was always strong on facts, and legally we were confident while pursuing extradition process.”
With limited options left before him, Mallya’s defence team can now appeal in higher courts in the UK against the verdict. The process is expected to take two months, which is the time in which the UK home secretary will have to sign the extradition order. Mallya’s defence team will, meanwhile, be considering the court judgment carefully to prepare their next course of action.
