India wants Vijay Mallya to be deported back to India from Britain. The Government of India has formally requested that Britain deport Vijay Mallya, the founder of low cost Indian air carrier Kingfisher Airlines. He has been accused of defaulting on bank loans, and is under investigation for violating India’s “Prevention of Money Laundering Act”. The India foreign ministry revoked Mallya’s diplomatic passport last week in a move to attempt to bring him back to face allegations that include fraud. The State Bank of India, the head of a consortium of 17 lenders that forced the grounding of Kingfisher Airlines, has petitioned the Debt Recovery Tribunal in India in an attempt to recover all loan funds from him. The consortium has rejected an offer by Mallya to partially repay the loans for the airline that he had backed with a personal guarantee, demanding that the former billionaire attend a hearing in the Supreme Court.
Vijay Mallya, believed to be residing in a country residence in Hertfordshire, has stated he would comply with the law. He reportedly left India on March 2 for the United Kingdom, and has the right to ask the British authorities to grant him permission to continue his stay, or challenge India’s request to revoke his passport. The Indian government is attempting to crack down on a rash of high profile loan defaulters.
Vijay Mallya, the head of the United Breweries Group in Bengaluru, founded Kingfisher Airlines in 2003. The airline started commercial operations in 2005, using a fleet of four new Airbus A-320 aircraft.
