The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that some secret proceedings were going on in the United Kingdom, delaying extradition of fugitive industrialist Vijay Mallya, despite Indian government's request having received legal sanction over there.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, submitted before a bench presided over by Justice U U Lalit that it was neither aware of the nature of secret proceedings, nor was it a party to it.
On this, the court asked advocate Ankur Saigal, appearing for Mallya to inform it about the nature of these confidential proceedings and when it would be over. The court also asked him to inform by November 2 after seeking instructions as to when Mallya would appear before it for sentencing in a contempt case.
Mallya, who evaded law enforcement authorities here on defaulting repayment of Rs 9,000 crore loan, and stayed at the United Kingdom, has suffered setbacks after the court over there in May allowed for his extradition.
His date of return, however, is still uncertain due to undisclosed legal issues.
The Enforcement Directorate has invoked provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act, 2018 against him.
The top court had in August dismissed a review petition filed by Mallya against his conviction in a contempt case in 2017, for failing to disclose the transfer of 40 million USD to his children's accounts despite an order against it.
The top court had then directed Mallya to appear before it on October 5 for hearing on proposed punishment against him.
(Published 05 October 2020, 10:33 IST)
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