UK Court issues enforcement order in Vijay Mallya assets case

The fugitive liquor baron owes Indian banks around ₹9,000 crore and is on the run. He had also written a letter to Prime Minister recently expressing his desire to clear hsi debt

UK Court issues enforcement order in Vijay Mallya assets case
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On Thursday, a UK High Court judge issued an enforcement order in favour of a consortium of 13 Indian banks which are expecting to recover funds owed by liquor baron Vijay Mallya to them. Mallya is a fugitive and economic offender with an extradition case to his name for fraud and money laundering of nearly ₹9,000 crore.

This order will allow the UK High Court Enforcement Officer to enter Mallya’s properties in Hertfordshire, near London. Along with this, the order also permits the officer and his agents to enter Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge in Tewin, Welwyn, where the 62-year old is currently present.

However, the order is not an instruction to enter the property but an option for the banks to recover the estimated funds of around ₹9,000 crore.

The High Court Enforcement Officer, including any enforcement agents acting under his authority, may enter Ladywalk, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn and Bramble Lodge, Queen Hoo Lane, Tewin, Welwyn, including all outbuildings of Ladywalk and Bramble Lodge to search for and take control of goods belonging to the First Defendant (Mallya)," notes the order by Justice Byran.

The order came in relation to the UK’s Tribunal Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 and follows a UK High Court ruling in May which denied to overturn a worldwide order to freeze Mallya’s assets and upheld the Indian judiciary’s ruling that the Indian banks are entitled to recover funds from him. 

Also Read: A Fugitive Cannot Dictate Terms: ED Refuses Mallya’s Offer

The 13 Indian banks: State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Corporation Bank, Federal Bank Ltd, IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Jammu & Kashmir Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, State Bank of Mysore, UCO Bank, United Bank of India and JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Co. Pvt. Ltd will now be able to seize the Kingfisher owner’s properties in England and Wales.

However, the ‘King of Good Times’ has made an application in the Court of Appeal seeking approval to appeal against the order. The application is pending.

Earlier, the businessman had issued a media statement and condemned the charges against him as politically motivated. He had also written a letter to Prime Minister promising to clear his dues.

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