Court order on plea to declare Mallya proclaimed offender likely today

The agency had moved the application against Mallya, who escaped from the country on March 2, last week

The special court for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act is likely to pass an order on Monday on the Enforcement Directorate’s plea to declare businessman Vijay Mallya a proclaimed offender.

Businessman Vijay Mallya is being investigated for alleged money laundering of a loan of Rs 900 crore taken by the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines from IDBI Bank. (Arijit Sen/ HT File Photo)

A person can be declared a proclaimed offender in a criminal case if the court has reason to believe that an accused against whom an arrest warrant has been issued is absconding or is in hiding, and due to which the warrant cannot be executed.

The agency earlier moved an application to declare Mallya, who left the country on March 2, a proclaimed offender last week, and the application was scheduled for an order on Friday.

“Please pass an order on the application for proclamation against Mallya so that the agency can approach the ministry of external affairs for a red corner notice against him,” advocate for the agency, Neeti Pondi, told the court on Friday.

The agency also submitted a detailed report of Mallya not being in the country. “My officers have searched various places to execute the warrant against Mallya. However, he is not found and has left the country,” Pondi said. “We are submitting the report of the officers describing the places where the officers had searched for the accused for the perusal of the court.”

Accepting the report, special judge PR Bhavake said he would pass an order on the plea on Monday.

The court had on April 18 issued a non-bailable warrant to bring the businessman back to India. The central agency is investigating alleged money laundering of a loan of Rs 900 crore taken by the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines from IDBI Bank. The ED on Saturday attached Mallya’s properties worth Rs 1,411 crore in this regard.