Indian liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is recently making headlines by facing a case of loan default of over Rs 9400 crore. A day before Ethics Committee of the Upper House was set to recommend his expulsion, Independent MP Mallya today resigned from Rajya Sabha.

 In his resignation letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari, he said he does not want his "name and reputation to be further dragged in the mud".

Mallya said in the letter that, "And since recent events suggest that I will not get a fair trial or justice, I am hereby resigning as a member of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect,"

Ethics Panel of the Upper House, which had taken up the matter, had unanimously decided in its April 25 meeting that Mallya should no longer remain a member of the House and was planning to recommend his expulsion in its next meeting on May 3. Meanwhile, the panel also decide to give Mallya one week time to explain his conduct.

In a step closer to initiating his deportation, the government had over a week ago revoked the passport of Mallya, who is believed to be in the UK after leaving India on March 2.