Liquor baron Vijay Mallya has been arrested in London, several Indian news reported on Tuesday afternoon.
India had sent an extradition request to British authorities so that Mallya can face trial after the liquor and aviation tycoon was charged with conspiracy and fraud over loans granted to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.
An India-based spokesman for Mallya’s UB Group did not offer an immediate comment, said foreign media agency.
On the other hand, the Times of India (TOI) reported while giving more details that Mallya was arrested by Scotland Yard on an extradition warrant and he would be produced before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court later today.
The business tycoon fled to Britain in March 2016 after being pursued in Indian courts by banks seeking to recover a staggering sum of money owed by his airlines.
Despite several orders, he failed to appear before investigators in connection with a probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), said the Indian newspaper.
A special court for PMLA in April 2016 had issued non-bailable warrants against him. In January 2017, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court also issued warrants against the beleaguered liquor baron in a loan default case.
