Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya informed the Bombay High Court that he is unable to specify when he will return to India, stating that court orders in the United Kingdom restrict him from travelling.
Mallya told the court that ongoing legal proceedings in the UK have led to restrictions that prevent him from leaving the country. He has been residing in the UK since 2016.
High Court’s Clear Stand
A bench led by Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Gautam Ankhad made it clear that his petition would not be heard unless he returns to India.
The court observed that Mallya must first clarify whether he is willing to come back. “You have to come back. If you cannot come back, then we cannot hear this plea,” the bench said, adding that he is being given one more opportunity to state his position clearly.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on February 18. The court directed Mallya to file an affidavit specifying whether he intends to return to India before seeking a hearing without being physically present.
Challenge To Fugitive Status
Mallya has filed two petitions before the High Court. One challenges the order declaring him a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. The second questions the constitutional validity of the 2018 legislation itself.
The 70-year-old businessman is facing multiple cases in India related to alleged fraud and money laundering. The bench noted that if he fails to clearly state his stand, it may have to record that he is avoiding the legal process. However, the court emphasised that it is not dismissing his plea at this stage and is granting him a fair opportunity to respond.