Supreme Court to pronounce quantum of sentence for Vijay Mallya in contempt case

Delhi, Sept 4, 2022: The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce on Monday the quantum of sentence against fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, an accused in the bank loan default case of over Rs9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, in a contempt case where he has been found guilty.

Earlier, a consortium of lending banks led by State Bank of India had moved the apex court alleging that Mallya was not following the court orders on repayment of loan which was then over Rs 9,000 crore.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat had said it has given multiple opportunities to Mallya to appear either personally or through a lawyer and had even given specific directions in its last order dated November 30, 2021.

Senior advocate and amicus curiae Jaideep Gupta said that the court has found Mallya guilty of contempt of court, and punishment has to be imposed.

Mallya was held guilty of contempt in 2017, and the matter was thereafter to be listed to hear him on the proposed punishment to be awarded to him.

The top court had dismissed Mallya’s plea in 2020 seeking a review of the 2017 verdict which held him guilty of contempt for transferring USD 40 million to his children in violation of court orders.

Mallya has been in UK since March 2016. He is on bail on an extradition warrant executed three years ago by the Scotland Yard on April 18, 2017.