MEA suspends Vijay Mallya’s passportStage set for his deportation

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, April 16: The Ministry of External Affairs Friday suspended the diplomatic passport of Vijay Mallya, chairman of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in connection with a money laundering probe in the over Rs 900-crore IDBI loan fraud case.

“Passport of Vijay Mallya suspended by the government of India on request of enforcement directorate,” a tweet by ED’s official Twitter handle said.

 

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup confirmed: “On the advice of the ED, the Passport Issuing Authority in the MEA has today suspended the validity of Vijay Mallya’s diplomatic passport with immediate effect for a period of 4 weeks, under Section 10 A of the Passports Act, 1967. Mallya has been asked to respond within one week as to why his passport should not be impounded or revoked under section 10(3)(c) of the Passports Act, 1967. If he fails to respond within the stipulated time, it will be assumed that he has no response to offer and the MEA will go ahead with the revocation.”

The ED had on April 13 sought revocation of Mallya’s diplomatic passport by the Regional Passport Office. This, after Mallya failed to appear before the probe agency on April 9, despite being summoned three times by the ED under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED had issued fresh summons to Mallya after he sought two extensions from the earlier dates of March 18 and April 2, citing official reasons. The ED said Mallya has delayed the money laundering investigation by not cooperating with the agency.

The ED has also approached the special PMLA court in Mumbai seeking a non-bailable warrant against Mallya in connection with the IDBI loan fraud case. The court is likely to hear the matter on the ED’s plea Saturday.