The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that a “secret” extradition process to bring fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya back into the country was going on.
The Centre, however, added that it was not aware of its status as it not a party to the proceedings.
A bench of Justices U U Lalit and Ashok Bhushan asked Mallya’s lawyer to inform the court about the kind of “secret” proceedings going on to extradite him.
However, advocate Ankur Saigal, appearing for Vijay Mallya, told the apex court that he was not aware of what kind of proceedings are going on.
“I have knowledge that my request against extradition has been rejected,” he said.
The bench also directed Mallya’s lawyers to apprise it by November 2 when can the fugitive businessman appear before the court and when the “secret” proceedings are going to end.
Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing on Centre’s behalf, told the court that extradition request has been made as per the direction of the court.
“Some secret extradition proceedings are going on to which we are not a party. Extradition proceedings have been upheld by the highest court of UK but it has not been happening as of now,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mallya was earlier directed by the top court to appear before it on October 5 while dismissing his plea seeking review of the 2017 verdict which held him guilty of contempt for transferring USD 40 million to his children in violations of court orders.
Mallya, an accused in bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, is presently in the United Kingdom.
