New Delhi, July 25
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya on a contempt petition for not disclosing his assets.
The Attorney General said that Mallya had yet to make a full disclosure of his assets.
"This gentleman (Mallya) has not complied fully with the orders of the court and he has not disclosed all the details about his assets. He has also not disclosed the amount of USD 45 million received by him from Diageo (British liquor major)," Rohatgi told a Bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and RF Nariman.
Mallya has been given four weeks’ time to respond.
On July 14, Rohatgi claimed that Mallya had provided incorrect details of his assets in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court.
Banks moved the petition after Mallya refused to disclose details of assets he held abroad.
Mallya has argued that he was an NRI and therefore did not need to give details of the assets he held abroad.
The Supreme Court had directed the businessman to provide the details in April after banks turned down his offer of receiving Rs 4,000 crore for settling debts that his now folded up company, Kingfisher Airlines, owes.
Mallya left for the UK, leaving banks struggling to get back a staggering Rs 9,000 crore debt that the company owes them. Attempts to bring back Mallya, including revocation of his passport by the Indian establishment, have so far failed.
Several agencies are investigating cases of default and loan fraud against the businessman, who has so far denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was being unfairly targeted.
Unable to cope with mounting debts and increasing financial strain, Kingfisher Airlines folded up in October 2012. — Agencies