SC notice to Mallya on plea of banks

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, July 25

The Supreme Court today issued a notice to liquor baron Vijay Mallya, directing him to respond within four weeks to a plea for action against him for contempt of court for non-disclosure of his assets despite his failure to repay bank loans amounting to over Rs 9,000 crore.

A Bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Nariman passed the order after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for a consortium of affected banks, said Mallya had failed to comply with the apex court order of April 7 for full disclosure of his assets within the country and abroad.

In his disclosure, the defaulter had not even mentioned the $45 million received by him from British liquor major Diageo, which had bought one of his companies, the AG pleaded with the Bench.

In the April order, the SC had asked him to declare within two weeks all his assets and that of his wife and children, his date of return from the UK and the amount he was willing to pay immediately. pti