On February 10, the Supreme Court set the contempt case against Vijay Mallya for hearing on Wednesday, giving the fugitive billionaire one final chance to appear before it, either physically or through his counsel.
Digital Desk: The Supreme Court deferred hearing on a request pertaining to the presence of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, charged in a bank loan default case involving his bankrupt Kingfisher Airlines, in a contempt case in which he has been convicted guilty, till Thursday.
On Wednesday, a bench comprised of justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat, and PS Narasimha scheduled the contempt case for hearing at 2 p.m. Thursday after senior attorney and amicus curiae Jaideep Gupta requested an adjournment because he would be engaged defending another matter.
On February 10, the Supreme Court set the contempt case against Vijay Mallya for hearing on Wednesday, giving the fugitive billionaire one final chance to appear before it, either physically or through his counsel.
The court stated that it had provided Vijay Mallya with many opportunities to appear, either personally or through a lawyer, and had even given specific directives in its most recent judgement, dated November 30, 2021.
Amicus Curiae According to Jaideep Gupta, the court has declared the contemnor guilty of contempt of court, and punishment must be applied.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, arguing for the Centre, stated that the court has inherent jurisdiction in contempt matters and that it has provided Vijay Mallya with enough chance, which he has not accepted.
On November 30, last year, the Supreme Court stated that it could not wait any longer and that the sentence portion of the contempt case against Vijay Mallya will be resolved once and for all.
Noting that Vijay Mallya, who is currently in the United Kingdom, was found guilty of contempt in 2017, and that the issue was then to be scheduled to hear him on the proposed sentence to be handed to him, the Supreme Court stated that it had waited "sufficiently long."
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In 2020, the Supreme Court denied Vijay Mallya's request for a review of its 2017 judgement, which found him guilty of contempt for transferring USD 40 million (one million equals ten lakhs) to his children in defiance of court orders.
The Supreme Court observed that, according to an office memorandum signed by the deputy secretary (extradition) of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the extradition procedures had reached a conclusion and Vijay Mallya has "exhausted all options for appeal" in the UK.
Vijay Mallya has been in the United Kingdom since March of 2016. He is being held on bail in connection with an extradition warrant issued by Scotland Yard three years ago on April 18, 2017.
