Hearing in Mallya case today; CBI heads to London

A team of officials led by the CBI’s Joint Director, S Sai Manohar, left for London to attend a crucial hearing in the extradition case of Vijay Mallya on Monday. Manohar will take the place of Special Director Rakesh Asthana, who had been attending the trial till now.

The government had sent Asthana on forced leave, divesting him of all powers after he and CBI Director Alok Verma entered in a bitter feud.

Two officials of the Enforcement Directorate are also accompanying the CBI officer, sources said. Manohar is part of the SIT, which was earlier headed by Asthana.

Mallya has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case is “politically motivated” and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.

The judge’s decision on whether to send Mallya’s case to UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid can be appealed with the UK High Court’s permission, with the person to be extradited entitled to make an application for permission to appeal to the High Court within 14 days of the date of the Chief Magistrate’s ruling.