London, Feb 5: UK home secretary Sajid Javid has ordered the extradition of Vijay Mallyaon charges of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering offences, the home office said on Monday, in a major blow to the embattled liquor baron. He now has 14 days from February 4 to apply for leave to appeal to the UK high court.
The Westminster Magistrates' Court in London had found merit in the charges registered against the 63-year-old businessman in India and ordered his extradition on December 10, 2018.
Javid, the UK's senior-most Pakistani-origin minister, had two months from that date to sign off on that order.
The UK home office confirmed on Monday that after considering all matters, the minister had signed Mallya's extradition order on Sunday.
"On February 3 the secretary of state, having carefully considered all relevant matters, signed the order for Vijay Mallya's extradition to India," a home office spokesperson said.
"Vijay Mallya is accused in India of conspiracy to defraud, making false representations and money laundering offences," the spokesperson added.
Mallya is on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard in April 2017 after the Indian authorities brought fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs 9,000 crore against him.
The former Kingfisher Airlines' boss has earlier indicated that he intends to file an application to appeal against the Westminster Magistrates' Court verdict.
The businessman had told reporters soon after the ruling by Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot that he would consider the verdict in detail and decide his next course of action. His legal team later confirmed that he will seek leave to appeal against the court order.
"Dr Mallya has now been able to consider the court's decision and intends to file an application for permission to appeal at the appropriate time," said Anand Doobay, Partner at UK-based Boutique Law LLP, who has been Mallya's solicitor through the extradition process.
Meanwhile, sources said that India welcomed the UK government's decision and hoped for an early completion of the extradition process.
"We have taken note of the decision of the UK home secretary to sign on the order for Vijay Mallya's extradition to India. While we welcome the UK government's decision in the matter, we await the early completion of the legal process for his extradition," they said.
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