Britain says it can't deport Vijay Mallya, but adds it's 'keen to help' India

NEW DELHI: The British government on Wednesday said it can't deport loans defaulter Vijay Mallya and asked India to consider requesting extradition, instead.

Britain also acknowledged "the seriousness of allegations" against Mallya and said it is "keen to assist" the Indian government.

"They have asked GoI (Government of India) to consider requesting mutual legal assistance or extradition," said Vikas Swarup, spokesman, ministry of external affairs.

"The UK Government has informed us that under 1971 Immigration Act, the UK does not require an individual to hold a valid passport in order to remain in the UK if they have extant leave to remain as long as their passport was valid when leave to remain or enter UK was conferred. At same time, UK acknowledges the seriousness of allegations & is keen to assist GoI," Swarup further said.

That means, Mallya can legally stay in Britain if his passport was valid when he entered the country. He left India on March 2 and the Indian government revoked his passport only after that, which means his passport was valid when he entered the UK.

Mallya owes more than Rs 9,000 crores to Indian banks. After he left, he has ignored three summonses by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to a money laundering case. Since then, court has also issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against the iquor baron.

"What I have learned so far is that deportation can't be allowed if someone entered the UK with a valid passport even if it is cancelled later", said finance minister Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha.

"An alternative process is that when a chargesheet is filed after an investigation, extradition has to be demanded," he added.

India wrote to the British High Commission in Delhi last month requesting that Mallya be deported to India.

The liquor baron's advocate had expressed apprehensions in court that if Mallya returned, he may be taken straight to Tihar Jail from Delhi airport.

In April, the external affairs ministry emphasized that India will vigorously pursue Mallya's deportation.

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