Next hearing in Vijay Mallya's extradition case will be on July 6 in a UK court
Highlights
- Vijay Mallya appeared before a court in the UK on Tuesday
- He is wanted in India for defaulting on loans of over 9,000 crores
- He has repeatedly dismissed the charges against him
Business tycoon Vijay Mallya, who appeared before a court in the UK today, had a bit of advice for the reporters waiting outside. "Keep dreaming about billions of pounds," he shot back as he left the court. The chief of the defunct Kingfisher Airlines is wanted in India for defaulting on loans to the tune of over Rs. 9,000 crore ($1.4 billion) and the UK courts will now hear India's appeal to extradite him to face justice at home.
"I am not going to answer any of your questions... I was heckled by two drunken cricket fans and you chose to highlight that. Many at the Oval wished me well," added Mr Mallya, who was booed by a section of India supporters as he went to watch the India-South Africa Champions Trophy match on Sunday.
The 61-year-old, who came to the court with his son Siddharth Mallya, has also asked the court for physical barriers to keep the media at a distance during the next hearing.
Mr Mallya was arrested by the UK police in April following India's request for extradition. Today, his lawyer Ben Watson told the Westminster Magistrates' court that India is now preparing a second extradition request with further separate charges.
While India has not yet finalized its evidence against him, the court will examine what has been submitted so far during the next hearing on July 6. The court has earmarked two weeks in December to hear the extradition case against him.
Mr Mallya has repeatedly dismissed the charges against him. "I have not eluded any court. I have no expectations, listen to what court says," he said today, asserting there was "enough evidence" to prove his case.
Once dubbed the "King of Good Times", the liquor baron, who is the co-owner of Formula One team Force India, had been living in Britain since March last year as the banks started collaborating on the recovery of the loans.
On May 9, he was found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court, after he was found to have sent his children millions of dollars. The top court, which is expected to spell its sentence in the case on July 10, has asked the Union Home Ministry to "secure and ensure" Mr Mallya's presence in court.