Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya was spotted outside The Kennington Oval stadium today in London while entering the stadium to watch the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 match between India and Australia. Mallya was intercepted by an ANI reporter while his entry pass was being checked by one security personnel outside the venue.
#WATCH London: Vijay Mallya arrives at The Oval cricket ground to watch #IndvsAus match; says, “I am here to watch the game.” #WorldCup2019 pic.twitter.com/RSEoJwsUr9
— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2019
When asked by the reporter about his extradition proceedings which are going on in a court in the UK, Mallya evaded the questions and said that he was there to watch the game. “I am here watch the game”, Mallya brushed aside the questions before proceeding to the ground.
Last year, in the month of December the Westminster Magistrates’ Court had passed an order of extradition of the liquor baron. The extradition order was approved by the UK government after the UK Home Secretary signed the extradition order against Mallya in February this year. Mallya had filed an application seeking an appeal against the extradition order of the UK government in a UK High Court. However, his appeal was rejected by the High Court. After the court’s denial, India had decided to send a special team to London to help the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the oral hearing of Mallya’s anti-extradition appeal in the UK High Court.
Mallya is facing the charges of money laundering, fraud, and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations. His company Kingfisher Airlines owed a debt of around 9000 crores to the creditors. An investigation conducted by the Enforcement Directorate had revealed that Mallya had no intention to repay these loans.
