London, Jan 15: The Indian government is set to move forward in two high-profile extradition cases in the UK courts, that of embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya and alleged bookie Sanjeev Kumar Chawla.
Mallya’s case, which was left inconclusive over the issue of admissibility of evidence presented by the Indian authorities at a hearing last week, will return to Westminster Magistrates’ Court here January 22. Judge Emma Arbuthnot is set to rule on the issue once Mallya’s defence team completes its argument claiming “absence of a strong prima facie case” and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), arguing on behalf of the Indian government, responds in favour of the evidence.
The 62-year-old, whose bail on an extradition warrant has been extended until April 2, is wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering allegedly amounting to around `9,000 crore.
The next week’s hearing is expected to also lead to a time-frame for closing arguments and verdict in the case, which seeks to establish that there are no bars to Mallya being extradited to India to stand trial.
A senior official has confirmed that India has now presented all clarifications sought by the judge during the trial, including regular medical assistance that will be made available to the businessman at Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai where he is to be held.
