The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that extradition proceedings against liquor baron Vijay Mallya are pending consideration with the British Government even as the court reserved its order on proceeding in contempt against the absconding businessman who owes a public debt of close to Rs 9,000 crore to a consortium of banks.
Dealing with the contempt petition filed by the banks led by State Bank of India, the Bench of Justices Adarsh Goel and UU lalit asked Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi appearing for the banks as to the way out considering the fact that Mallya is in london and assets of his erstwhile company Kingfisher Airlines worth Rs 10,000 crore lies attached with the Enforce-
ment Directorate and Income Tax department under separate proceedings.
Rohatgi asked the Court to direct the liquor baron to deposit the $ 40 million payment received from Diageo as a payoff towards sale of his stake in United Spirits limited.
This money was diverted by Mallya into private trusts run by his children in violation of a restraint order imposed by the Karnataka HC and by hiding the information from Supreme Court, which directed him to disclose his assets.