British court approves the extradition of Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya on charges of fraud and money laundering

The judge ruled against Mallya at a hearing in London, largely rejecting his arguments that the case against him in India was politically motivated

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Vijay Mallya arrives for his extradition ruling in London. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 10:45pm, 10 Dec 2018Updated: 11:50pm, 10 Dec 2018

Vijay Mallya, the fugitive Indian tycoon fighting multiple cases in the UK after defaulting on loans, has lost a bid to avoid extradition to his home country where he faces charges of fraud and money laundering.

Judge Emma Arbuthnot ruled against Mallya at a hearing in London on Monday, largely rejecting his arguments that the case was politically motivated.

“I do not accept the courts in India are there to do what the politicians tell them to do,” Arbuthnot told a packed courtroom. “There is no sign that this is a false case” to assuage Indian prosecutors’ “political masters.”

The ruling has been seen as a key win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Photo: AP

The ruling by the British court is a crucial win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which has been battling to contain the political damage after some 31 Indians linked to fraud cases fled abroad to avoid prosecution.

With national elections due early next year, Modi is under pressure to act against wealthy defaulters as the nation’s lenders step up efforts to clean up bad loans, partly by tightening bankruptcy rules.