NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) today issued the third and possibly the last summons to liquor baron Vijay Mallya to present himself before its investigators on April 9 in Mumbai in connection with money laundering probe in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.
Mallya had yesterday sought time till May to depose before the agency, expressing his inability to keep the scheduled date for today at the ED’s zonal office in Mumbai.
Official sources said the investigating officer (IO) at ED’s Mumbai office today issued fresh summons to the United Breweries (UB) group Chairman to personally appear before him on April 9.
ED officials hinted that this could possibly be the last summons to Mallya as the IO had allowed his plea to postpone his appearance till now, both on technical and legal grounds.
They said, under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), usually a maximum of three summons are sent and that would be completed by the fresh date on Saturday next.
They also added that the IO had turned down Mallya’s request for giving him time till May as his joining the probe was important and hence he only gave him a week’s time, till Saturday next.
It is understood that Mallya had yesterday informed the IO that cases related to bank loans were currently subjudice in the Supreme Court and he was trying to settle these loans with the help of his legal and corporate team and, hence, would require some more time.
If he again fails to appear on April 9, sources said, the ED could initiate legal action for revoking his passport and also get a non-bailable warrant against him issued by a court.
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