SC notice to banks on Mallya's plea

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the SBI-led consortium of banks to reply to beleaguered industrialist Vijay Mallya’s plea to recall contempt notice, issued for not making full disclosure of assets.

A bench of Justices Kurian Joseph and R F Nariman decided to seek response from the banks, demanding repayment of over Rs 9,000 crore loans from Mallya and his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, on the application filed by Mallya.

The court put the matter for detailed consideration on September 27 as Mallya’s counsel senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan contended that he committed no contempt of court. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted since Mallya did not respond to the Supreme Court’s notice for contempt issued on July 25 and did not appear personally before the court, he should not be granted any opportunity of hearing.