TeluguabroadA Delhi court pn Friday issued a non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya in a case of allegedly evading summons in a FERA violation matter and warned of initiating coercive process against him.
The court observed that he had no inclination to return and had scant regard for the law of the land.
It said coercive process has to be initiated against the liquor baron as he was facing proceedings in several cases and evading appearence in those matters.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass also held that Mr. Mallya’s plea, that he wanted to return to India but was “incapacitated” to travel as his passport had been revoked by Indian authorities, was “malafide” and “abuse of the process of law“.
“He has no inclination whatsoever to come to this court and appear here… He has scant regard for the law of the land,” the court said.
“Keeping in view the conduct of the accused, coercive process has to be directed against the accused. Issue non-bailable warrant against the accused. Put up the matter for December 22,” the court said.
During the hearing senior advocate Ramesh Gupta and advocate Ajay Bhargava, appearing for Mallya, said he does not wish to file any reply to Enforcement Directorate’s response on his plea and the matter should be fixed for final arguments.
The court also said that on October 4 it had specifically noted that he could approach authorities and obtain emergency document to return to India but the situation is that he has not taken any such step.
“It appears that accused is not willing to take any steps to return to India,” the CMM said.
Second NBW issued in 2012 cheque bounce case
Meanwhile, Mr. Mallya has been issued another non-bailable warrant, the second one on Friday, in a 2012 cheque bounce case following his non-appearance.
Metropolitan Magistrate Sumeet Anand passed the order with the direction that NBW be executed through Ministry of External Affairs as the liquor baron is reportedly in London.
The court then listed the matter for further hearing on February 4, 2017.
The court, on August 6, 2016, also issued an NBW against Mr. Mallya saying that coercive steps were required to ensure his appearance.
The court had earlier noted that despite repeated orders, Mr. Mallya did not appear in the court and it was inevitable for the state machinery to intervene and ensure his presence.
