After 3 failed summons, ED moves to revoke Mallya's passport

After issuing three rounds of summons to Vijay Mallya in the Rs 900-crore IDBI Bank loan case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday asked the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Delhi to revoke business tycoon Vijay Mallya's passport.

Mallya is being investigated on charges of misappropriating a Rs 900 crore loan from IDBI Bank for the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines as well as faces charges of conspiring with banks officials to flout norms to get the loan sanctioned.

Under the law, passport authorities can revoke the passport if the holder of the passport is liable to be present before a court in India. The passport can also be revoked if criminal proceedings are going on against the person in question.

He was first summoned by the ED to appear in person at its office in Mumbai on March 18 but he sought more time citing his prior engagements, following which the agency asked him to depose on April 2. The third summon was issued to him on April 9.On April 9, Mallya had told the ED he would not be able to appear as he is currently negotiating with banks for repaying loan. Supreme Court had earlier directed Mallya to be present before it on March 30, with his passport, after it came to known that he had left the country on March 2.Sources say the ED does not want to stall the probe to suit Mallya's convenience. If and when the ED gets permission, Mallya will be forced to return to India, which he left on March 2.