Vijay Mallya's Mumbai cell to have TV, private toilet, washing area; CBI sends video to UK court
Mallya case in Supreme Court
The CBI sent the video after authorities in the UK complained that there is 'no natural light' or fresh air in Indian jails.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted a video of Barrack Number 12 of Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail where former liquor baron Vijay Mallya will be kept after his extradition.
The video was sent on UK's Westminster Magistrate's Court's demand after Mallya complained about the inhabitable conditions in Indian jails.
The six to eight-minute-long video showed the jail to have a personal toilet, library, washing area and a TV set along with a courtyard.
According to media reports, the UK court asked the Indian government fora video of the prison cell for "the avoidance of doubt" over the availability of natural light in the cell where the businessman was expected to be detained pre-trial, during trial and in the event he was convicted by the Indian courts, news agency PTI reported
Vijay Mallya's defense lawyers had challenged the extradition on grounds that he is unlikely to get a fair trial in India and that the conditions in Indian jails are not habitable.
A 'step by step video'of Barrack 12 was sent by the CBI to UK officials.
The CBI also added that Arthur Road Jail's Barrack 12 houses high-profile inmates, including prisoners who face a security threat elsewhere, or those who could pose a threat to others.
The UK court has been hearing money laundering case against Mallya, a charge he vehemently denies. Mallya had said he was ready to settle "all dues" but hadn't filed a clemency plea.
In the ongoing matter, in case the judge rules in favor of the Indian government, authorities in the UK will have about two months to sign Mallya's extradition order, but both parties will have a chance to appeal in higher courts.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier said it will appeal against a recent order of a PMLA tribunal, asking the agency to release a "minuscule" amount of assets it had attached in connection with a multi-crore-rupee bank loan fraud probe related to the Kingfisher Airlines and its promoter Vijay Mallya.