ED’s third summons to Vijay Mallya for April 9

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday issued the third and possibly the last summons to liquor baron Vijay Mallya, setting April 9 as the date for him to be present before its investigators in Mumbai in connection with the money-laundering probe in the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.

ED officials hinted that this could possibly be the last summons to Mr Mallya as the investigating officer (IO) had allowed his plea to postpone his appearance till now, both on technical and legal grounds. Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) usually a maximum of three summons are sent, official sources said, adding that would be completed by the fresh date on Saturday next.

If he again fails to appear on April 9, the ED could initiate legal action for revoking his passport and also get a non-bailable warrant against him issued by a court, sources said.

Mr Mallya was first summoned by the agency 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.

On Friday, Mr Mallya had sought time till May to depose before the agency, expressing his inability to keep the scheduled date for Saturday at the ED’s zonal office in Mumbai.

Official sources said the IO at ED’s Mumbai office have issued fresh summons to the United Breweries (UB) group chairman to personally appear before him on April 9.

The sources said the IO had turned down Mr 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 Mr Mallya had on Friday 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.