A group of banks led by the State Bank of India moved the Supreme Court with a fresh appeal seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against Kingfisher's Vijay Mallya. A bench comprising Justice Kurian Joseph and RF Nariman agreed to hear the fresh interim application, after Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi called for urgent hearing.
Rohatgi claimed Mallya had provided with wrong details of his assets in a sealed cover to the court, further saying a lot of information has also been concealed, including a cash transaction to the tune of £250 million, which amounted to contempt of court. In a rejoinder affidavit to Mallya's reply, the banks had said that disclosure of overseas assets by him and his family was significant for the recovery of the dues. Rohatgi had earlier said that Mallya has also not agreed to deposit a "substantial amount" as part of the £940 million loan due on him to establish his bonafide. Mallya had said the banks had no right over information regarding his overseas movable and immovable assets as he was an NRI since 1988. The former business tycoon also claimed that as an NRI, he was not obliged to disclose his overseas assets, and added that his three children and wife, all US citizens, also need not disclose their assets. A statement released by him read, "Overseas assets were not considered while granting loans."
The court on April 7 had directed Mallya to disclose by April 21 the total assets owned by him and his family in India and abroad, while seeking an indication from him when he would appear before it.
