A UK High Court has given a big jolt to the businessman Vijay Mallya. The High Court has allowed Mallya’s London properties to be searched and seized on the petition of the union of 13 Indian banks.
After the order of the High Court, the UK enforcement officer, will be able to search Vijay Mallya’s property in Hertfordshire, located near London. The UK High Court has allowed officers and their agents to search his properties in Tewin, Welwyn at Ladywalk and Bromley Lodge. At present, Mallya lives here. It is worth mentioning that Mallya,62, is accused of fraud and money laundering of Rs 9,000 crore in loans with Indian banks. Along with this, Mallya is opposing his handing over to India.
Banks got alternatives
This order is not meant to be searched only in these places, but banks have got an option to use this order to recover the amount of 1.145 billion pounds. In the order written by Judge Byron on June 26, it has been said that the enforcement officers of the High Court and the agents working under them can enter Ladywalk and Bromley Lodge, Tewin, Welwyn and search there, find and seize things related to Vijay Mallya.
Also given the permission to use force
It was said in the order that the enforcement officers of the High Court can use force for these places as needed. At the same time, according to experts who have been aware of the matter, permission has been granted for the order of the Queen Bench Division of the High Court, while the banks are considering options for the use of force present in their presence.
Bangalore Police said in a Delhi court Thursday that it has identified 159 properties of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya. But in the matter of money laundering case filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the FERA violation, the police could not charge any of these properties.
The Bengaluru Police told the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Sahra, via ED, said that he could not charge the property of Mallya. Because some of these have been cleared by ED of Mumbai region and the remaining assets are in part of liquidation process. Due to escaping summons in this case, the court had declared Mallya a fugitive on January 4.