Mumbai court refuses to give more time to Vijay Mallya to respond on ED application

The Mumbai PMLA court has refused to give more time to fugitive economic offender Vijay Mallya for responding on theEnforcement Directorate's application.

In its hearing in the case on Monday, the PMLA court said thatthe Court is powerless to give time beyond one week as mandated by Fugitive Offenders law.

The court's judgement had come in response to the request of Vijay Mallya's lawyer.

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The lawyer had sought more time to file his reply on the Enforcement Directorate's notice saying that some of the notices have not been received by him although he has shared his Mauritius address.

Responding to Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate has said that as per law, no more time can be given to Vijay Mallya to respond on the application and even the Court is powerless to give time beyond one week as mandated by Fugitive Offenders law.

A special court had earlier fixed September 3 as the date of hearing in the Vijay Mallya fugitive economic offender declaration case.

The same court, on June 30, had issued a notice to Mallya to appear before it on August 27 after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) charged the liquor baron under the new law as it enlarged its money laundering probe against him and others in a Rs 9,000 alleged bank fraud case.

The central probe agency had also sought immediate confiscation of assets worth about Rs 12,500 crore of Mallya as part of this latest action.

The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against the businessman in two cases filed by the ED.

Mallya, his now-defunct venture Kingfisher Airlines Limited and others availed loans from various banks and the outstanding amount, including interest, against him, is Rs 9,990.07 crore at present, the officials had said while filing the plea under the new law.

(With inputs from PTI)