IDBI case: MEA seeks legal opinion, exploring Mallya’s deportation

As the ministry has been approached by the Enforcement Directorate which informed about the non-bailable arrest warrant issued against Mallya by a Sessions Court in Greater Mumbai, the official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs Vikas Swarup said that a request has been made to initiate steps for the deportation of Mallya to ensure his presence before the lawful authorities to proceed with investigation against him.

Watch | Keystrokes: Vijay Mallya

Now “we are consulting legal experts,” he said. He said that ED has approached MEA forboth revocation of Mallya’s passport and his deportation. “Those two actions are underway,” he said.

Simultaneously, the ministry was also examining the response provided by Mallya through his lawyer to the show-cause notice asking why his passport should not be impounded or revoked, he said.

Sources had already indicated that once the deportation proceedings are initiated, the government will seek assistance of the United Kingdom to interdict Mallya and fly him back to India.

“The grounds for deportation are primarily two. A non-bailable warrant issued by the Mumbai court and suspension of the passport of the businessman,” they said. Mallya is understood to be in the United Kingdom after he left India on March 2.

WATCH INDIAN EXPRESS VIDEOS HERE