Delhi Court declares Vijay Mallya as a Proclaimed Offender

The Delhi Trial Court after issuing repeated summons declared infamous liquor baron Vijay Mallya a proclaimed offender.
 
The summons was in relation to the money laundering case against Mallya in connection with the alleged payment of $ 200,000/- to a British firm for exhibiting the Kingfisher logo during the Formula One World Championships in London and some other European countries in 1996, 97 & 98. The money paid by Mallya was allegedly paid without informing and without prior approval of the RBI which violated the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act and Rules.
 
The Court had earlier issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against Mallya. An open-ended non-bailable warrant does not need a time limit for execution. Even while issuing the warrants against him, the Court had observed that he had no interest to appear to the Court and had no regard for the law in India. Therefore, such an action was felt necessary since he had been avoiding several Court proceedings.
 
Earlier, Mallya had blamed the authorities for his non-appearance and incapacity to travel to India since his passport had been revoked. However, the Court had stated the reason to be malafide and that he had abused the process of law.