SC Notice to ED on Mallya’s Plea on Fugitive Economic Offender Tag

File photo of embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

The Supreme Court on Friday, 7 December, issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya’s plea challenging the ongoing proceedings in a Mumbai court to declare him fugitive economic offender.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice SK Kaul sought the probe agency’s response on the plea against the ongoing trial before a special court under the money laundering act.

The ED moved the special court seeking to declare the London based industrialist a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offender Act 2018.

The apex court issued notice on Mallya's plea but refused to stay the proceedings before the Mumbai special court.

The Bombay High Court recently dismissed Mallya's appeal. The industrialist has filed an appeal against the high court order.

Earlier, on Friday, 30 November, Mallya’s counsel said that Mallya cannot be termed a “fugitive economic offender” as he was arrested in the United Kingdom and is facing an extradition trial there, The Indian Express reported.

According to the report, Counsel Amit Desai is fighting the case against Mallya being declared a “fugitive economic offender” under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

Desai, in his submission, said: While the ED has claimed that a warrant against Mallya is not executed, his arrest in the UK proves otherwise.

(With inputs from PTI and The Indian Express)