New Delhi, December 9: A joint team of CBI and ED led by CBI Joint Director A Sai Manohar has left for UK for court proceedings in London on India’s request seeking extradition of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya. Earlier, Rakesh Asthana was leading the case before getting embroiled in the CBI vs CBI controversy along with director of CBI, Alok Verma. CBI vs CBI: Alok Verma, Rakesh Asthana Were Fighting Like Cats, AG Tells Supreme Court.

The Court is expected to pronounce its judgment on Monday. Check the ANI tweet below:

Controversial and flamboyant liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on alleged fraud and money laundering charges amounting to an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, is scheduled to return to the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday when his extradition trial is listed for a judgment hand-down. In September, the UK court on reserved its verdict in connection with an extradition case against the fugitive liquor baron Mallya for December 10.

The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss has been on bail since his arrest on an extradition warrant in April last year. London Court Allows Sale of Six Posh Cars Owned by Vijay Mallya to Repay Indian Banks.

He has contested his extradition on the grounds that the case against him is “politically motivated” and the loans he has been accused of defrauding on were sought to keep his now-defunct airline afloat.

“I did not borrow a single rupee. The borrower was Kingfisher Airlines. Money was lost due to a genuine and sad business failure. Being held as guarantor is not fraud,” he said in his recent Twitter post on the issue. “I have offered to repay 100 per cent of the principal amount to them. Please take it,” Mallya tweeted earlier. Vijay Mallya to Repay 100% Loan Amount; Liquor Baron's Offer Comes Just Five days Ahead of His Extradition Hearing.

While dismissing that his intervention has anything to do with the extradition case, it came just days before Judge Emma Arbuthnot is expected to present her ruling in the case. The trial, which opened at the Magistrates’ Court on December 4 last year, has gone through a series of hearings beyond the initial seven days earmarked for it. (With Agency Inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 09, 2018 04:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).