Vijay Mallya extradition case: Mallya says he met Finance Minister to settle matters before he left

Businessman Vijay Mallya arrived at a London court on Wednesday for a hearing regarding his extradition case, in which the judge was expected to review a video of the Mumbai jail cell prepared by the Indian authorities for the liquor businessman.

The former Kingfisher Airline chief reached at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court at around 2 pm IST. But the postponed after the judge was unable to hear the case scheduled.

Vijay Mallya on Wednesday made a controversial comment following he claimed that he met the Finance Minister to “settle matters” before he left for the United Kingdom. He said, “I met the finance minister to settle matters before I left. The banks had filed objections to my settlement letters,” said Mallya outside London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The fugitive liquor tycoon was wanted in India regarding cases of fraud and money laundering closed to the amount of Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya is defending his extradition to India replying that Indian jails do not have proper light and air. Nevertheless, the CBI has submitted an 8-minute video of Barrack Number 12 of the Arthur Road jail where Mallya upon his extradition might transfer.

Mallya, who has been on bail on an extradition warrant since his arrest in April last year, addressed many reporters gathered outside the court where he said: “courts will decide”.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, I have made a comprehensive settlement offer before the Karnataka High Court. I hope the honourable judges will consider it favorably; everybody gets paid off and I guess that’s the primary objective.”

During the trial, Mallya’s defence team has presented a series of expert witnesses to claim he had no “fraudulent” intentions and that he is not likely to get a fair trial in India.