ED Requests Passport Office to Revoke Vijay Mallya’s Passport

Vijay Mallya failed to appear before the ED after each of the three summons issued by the central probe agency.

Vijay Mallya was issued a diplomatic passport as he was a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha. (Photo altered by The Quint)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is seeking revocation of Vijay Mallya’s passport on grounds of non-cooperation. The agency has directed its request to Registrar Passport Office (RPO).

Officials said the central probe agency has written to the Ministry of External Affairs to take action under the Passport Act, 1967 and ask the Regional Passport Office (RPO) to revoke the diplomatic passport of the beleaguered businessman as he has turned out to be “non-cooperative” with its investigators probing a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at its zonal office in Mumbai.

It is understood that Mallya left the country for the UK on 2 March using a diplomatic passport issued to him by virtue of him being a sitting Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament.

Under the Passport Act, when a person is issued a diplomatic passport, their regular international travel document gets deposited and when a revocation is sought for the former, the latter too gets cancelled. They said once the ED request is approved, the MEA will inform UK authorities about the same and seek for his deportation to India.

Mallya had thrice failed to appear before the ED Investigating Officer (IO) in Mumbai in connection with the Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case which the central probe agency is investigating under PMLA.

However, it is understood, that he has suggested his legal team can help ED in taking the probe forward.

He is the main person in the case. His joining the investigations personally is very essential.

<b>ED Officials</b>

Once Mallya’s passport is revoked, ED is left with the option to approach a competent court and get a non-bailable warrant against him and also ask the Interpol to issue a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against him and apprehend him anywhere across the globe.

Mallya, who is facing legal proceedings for alleged default of loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore from various banks, was also directed by the Supreme Court to disclose all assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad by 21 April.

(With PTI inputs)