Mallya will be safe in Indian jails: India to tell UK court

With industrialist Vijay Mallya trying to take refuge under the plea that his life will be in danger in Indian jails, New Delhi will assure a British court that they will ensure his safety if extradited.

Official sources said the decision to convey this to Westminster Magistrates' Court in London through the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba. The CPS is arguing the extradition case on India's behalf.

The response to be filed in the court came as Mallya argued that he is not safe in Indian jails if he is sent back to face trial in the over Rs 9,400 crore loan default case. The hearing in the extradition plea will begin on December 4.

Sources said India will tell the court that he may be lodged in Arthur Road jail where he will get full security cover as an undertrial prisoner.

The agencies had a detailed assessment of security cover given to prisoners in Arthur Road jail and Tihar jail in Delhi.

Mallya is trying to save himself from facing the law of the land by raising such flimsy claims, sources said about the contents of the assurance.

He was arrested in October in a second case involving money laundering in the UK, which is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its investigations into the loan Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines took.

Earlier, an extradition plea was filed in connection with fraud charges filed by CBI after his arrest in April.

Mallya fled India in March last year just before the Supreme Court was to hear a plea by a consortium of banks which gave him the loan.