The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday issued the third and possibly the last summons to liquor baron Vijay Mallya to present himself before its investigators on April 9 in Mumbai in connection with a money laundering case against him in the `900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.
Mallya had on Friday sought time till May to depose before the agency, expressing his inability to keep the scheduled date for April 2 at the ED’s zonal office in Mumbai.
The investigating officer (IO) at ED’s Mumbai office on Saturday issued fresh summons to the beleagured businessman to personally appear before him on April 9.
ED officials hinted that this could possibly be the last summons to Mallya as the IO had allowed his plea to postpone his appearance till now, both on technical and legal grounds.
Under Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMlA), usually a maximum of three summons are sent and that would be completed by the fresh date on Saturday next. The IO had turned down Mallya’s request for giving him time till May as his joining the probe was important and hence he only gave him a week’s time, till Saturday next, officials said.
Mallya had on Friday informed the IO that cases related to bank loans were currently subjudice in the Supreme Court and he was trying to settle these loans with the help of his legal and corporate team and, hence, would require some more time.
If he again fails to appear on April 9, sources said, the ED could initiate legal action for revoking his passport and also get a non-bailable warrant against him issued by a court.
Mallya was first summoned by the agency 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.
He was asked to furnish documents related to his personal investments and finances, Income Tax Returns for the last five years and his passport.
He is currently reported to be in the United Kingdom after he allegedly fled India on March 2.