Liquor baron Vijay Mallya informed a Delhi court that he wants to come to India but is unable to travel back as his passport has been suspended by Indian authorities.
Mallya made the submission through his counsel before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Dass in a case lodged for allegedly evading summons in connection with a FERA violation matter.On July 9, the court had cancelled the exemption from personal appearance granted to him and had directed him to appear before it.
In his application moved through senior advocate Ramesh Gupta, Mallya requested the court that some time be given so that his appearance can be secured.
The counsel submitted the copy of an email sent by Mallya, stating that his passport was suspended on April 23, 2016 without giving him any opportunity of being heard.
Enforcement Directorate (ED), however, told the court that Mallya is already evading proceedings in several other cases and sought time to reply to the plea moved by him today.The court has now put up the matter for further hearing on October 4.
The exemption from personal appearance to Mallya was granted in December 2000 on ED’s complaint for evading summons issued to him by it.
The agency had issued summons to the businessman in connection with alleged payment of 200,000 dollars to a British firm for displaying Kingfisher logo in Formula One World Championships in London and some European countries in 1996, 1997 and 1998.
It had claimed that the money was allegedly paid without prior approval from RBI in violation of FERA norms.
