Strong political patronage in the UK stalling Mallya’s extradition to India

New Delhi:  Fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya’s extradition is developing into a complex interplay of political connections, which helps him to continue to live in the UK, despite exhausting all avenues of appeal against his extradition. The legal wrangle has been given a peculiar identity – an issue outside and apart from the extradition process – which has effect under the UK law and its resolution is a pre-requisite to bring him back to India.
According to a source familiar with the development, strong political patronage in the UK is nixing all efforts to extradite Mallya, who is wanted in India for defaulting on loans worth thousands of crores of rupees.
The source added that Mallya’s extradition is before India’s foreign secretary as an important matter seeking immediate attention. Also, a crystal-clear diplomatic stand on Mallya has been communicated to the UK authorities, yet they continue to stall his extradition behind the veil of a confidential legal issue. Despite repeated efforts, the UK has declined to disclose these confidential proceedings, said the source.
The high court dismissed Mallya’s appeal against extradition on April 20, 2020. He applied leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in the high court. On May 14, the high court of London rejected his application for permission to appeal to Supreme Court. Mallya has thus exhausted all avenues of appeal in the UK. In fact, the high court order had set Mallya on the path for extradition within 28 days, yet it is far from complete.
“It is understood, he is actively pursuing asylum proceedings in the UK. India’s foreign secretary had met the Indian High Commissioner in the UK, and discussed the matter. But the UK authorities are acting arbitrarily, when it comes to his extradition”, said the source, citing that asylum is a completely discretionary proceeding of the political dispensation.
Indian authorities are pursuing Mallya’s extradition very aggressively, the home secretary had written a letter to the foreign secretary to take up with concerned authorities in the British High Commission and the UK government for successful extradition of Mallya.