Directorate (ED) is mulling “appropriate” action against liqour baron Vijay Mallya, including getting his passport revoked, after he failed to appear before it despite being summoned thrice in connection with a money laundering probe in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.
Officials said an appropraite actions will taken to probe forward n the case. ED’s zonal office in Mumbai, they said, is preparing legal papers to take the next step in the wake of Mallya skipping the third summons that required him to “personally” join investigations on April 9.
The IO of the case had allowed Mallya’s plea to postpone his appearance till now, they said, by considering both technical and legal grounds cited by him for his absence.He was first summoned by the ED to appear in person at its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing his prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2. The third summon was issued to him on April 9.
The courtousm of 13 banks supports to revoke vijay mallya’s passport.
The latest move is aimed at putting pressure on the industrialist, who is at present believed to be in London. Once the passport is revoked, Mallya’s stay abroad will face legal troubles. However, it remains to be seen whether Mallya will indeed fall in line or find some loop hole to escape this too.
