ED wants Mallya declared proclaimed offender

Just when one thinks that the Mallya case is just about over, the news always surprise you. And Mallya himself, it seems. The Enforcement Directorate on Friday moved a court in Mumbai to declare liquor baron Vijay Mallya a proclaimed offender in a bank loan fraud case. Official sources said they moved the special anti-money laundering court under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) seeking to declare Mallya as a proclaimed offender as there is a non-bailable warrant and other arrest warrants against him. The ED is not leaving any option to corner the liquor baron in the case arising out of a Rs 900 crore IDBI bank loan default probe, they said. “ There are multiple warrants. He is also wanted in the money laundering case. The court has been apprised of the status of investigations and the need for bringing him to join the probe,” the sources said. The court is likely to hear the case again on June 13 where the ED expects a favourable order. Mallya had left India on March 2 for London and did not return despite his passport being revoked. He was issued three summons by the ED for joining the probe, but he refused and sought more time. Following this, the ED approached court for non-bailable warrant. However, its efforts to get him deported could not materialise after the United Kingdom refused to do so. At present, India is working on an extradition plea. A court can declare a person a proclaimed offender if it believes that the accused against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by it, has absconded or is concealing himself so that such warrant cannot be executed. As per Section 82 of the CrPC, the court can publish a written proclamation requiring such an accused to appear at a specified place and at a specified time in not less than 30 days from the date of publishing of such a proclamation. Official sources said the ED can also invoke Section 83 of the CrPC (attachment of property of person absconding) if Mallya does not comply with proceedings initiated under Section 82.

OUR TAKE

Money laundering, evading arrest etc etc. We have lost count of how many charges are up against the liquor baron. If and when Indian forces do bring him down, it will surely not be good times for Mr. Mallya anymore. But maybe that is exactly what is needed in his case- a reminder that you cannot just keep buying things and don't pay for it. The liquor baron had it coming.