Mallya appears on the electoral roles in the UK
Sreekanth A. Nair
The Rajya Sabha’s Ethics Committee of India has decided to recommend removal of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is living in the Britain now, from the parliament after the committee, found that Member of Rajyasabha failed to provide details of the changes in his assets and liabilities for last ten years.
“All members wanted Mallya to be expelled. But chairman Karan Singh pointed out that before recommending expulsion, we must allow Mallya to defend himself,” Hindustan Times quoted a member of the committee as saying.
The committee had sent notice to Mallya seeking an explanation for the issue. But the committee didn’t get any response.
Every Rajyasabha member must submit an affidavit stating the changes in their assets and liabilities every year. But, Mallya said every year that his assets and liabilities haven’t changed.
“We have examined the entire issue related to Mallya’s case. The documents that we had sought from banks have also come. There was a unanimous view in the panel that he should be expelled from the House. But we have still decided to give him a week’s time to tell us whatever he has to say. The next meeting of the committee has been fixed on May 3, when we will take a final decision,” Karan Singh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
Meanwhile, Firstpost reported that the founder of now defunct Kingfisher Airlines appeared on the electoral roles in the UK with his country home as his address. He is living in a three-storey mansion called Ladywalk in the village of Tewin in Hertfordshire, Britain.
A report in The Sunday Times said that the $11.5 million mansion was bought from the father of British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton by a company with offshore links. According to the report, Mallya has also confirmed his address.
The British government is strictly monitoring the companies with offshore links buying properties in the country as the real owner hidden behind the company may get tax benefits.
It is estimated that such companies have 170 billion pounds of properties in Britain.
The Ministry of External Affairs has revoked the passport of Vijay Mallya who owes $1.39 billion to different Indian banks. The authorities are planning to seek the help of Interpol to issue a red-corner notice against Mallya which will help the businessman to get deported to India.