Monday, In order to a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) a Delhi court issued notice to liquor baron Vijay Mallya, recalling its order granting exemption from appearance in a case alleged violation of foreign exchange rules. Mallya has also been evading summons in a separate money laundering case investigated against him by the ED as he is reported to be in the United Kingdom.
NK Matta who is a ED Public Prosecutor, supposedly moved the application last week before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sumit Das that also sought the issuance of a non-bailable warrant to secure his presence for the remainder of the the 16-year-old trial.
The ED stated in its application "In view of the above, it is most respectfully prayed that this court may be pleased to withdraw the exemption given from the personal appearance of the accused and may be pleased to issue non-bailable warrant to secure the presence of the accused, in the on going trial”.
The ED filed a complaint under section 56 of the erstwhile Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) on March 8, 2000 when Mallya ignored summons issued by the ED. After trial the prosecutor's plea, CMM Das issued notice to Mallya's counsel on Monday and sought his reply before May 20.