External affairs ministry revokes Vijay Mallya’s passport

Vijay Mallya, founder of Kingfisher Airlines, had left India on March 2

The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday revoked the passport of Vijay Mallya, who is facing legal proceedings for the alleged default of loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore from various banks.

“After having considered replies by Vijay Mallya, MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) revokes his passport under S.10(3)(c) & (h) of Passports Act,” the MEA’s official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Sunday.

The MEA had on Friday said the central government was committed to bringing Mallya back in India to face justice. He has been in the UK for about a month now.

“We are considering steps for Mallya’s deportation,” Swarup had said on Friday. The MEA is considering legal experts regarding this issue.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had weeks ago asked that Mallya’s passport be revoked for non-cooperation with investigators, after he failed to present himself before the agency that has summoned him three times.

Last week, the MEA suspended the liquor baron’s passport on the advice of the ED.

“Mallya has been asked to respond within one week as to why his passport should not be impounded or revoked under section 10(3)(c) of the Passports Act, 1967. If he fails to respond within the stipulated time, it will be assumed that he has no response to offer and the MEA will go ahead with the revocation,” Swarup had then said.

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