Indian businessman Vijay Mallya insists all allegations of money laundering against him are “baseless and fabricated”. Addressing the media after leaving a London courthouse, the ex-chairman of United Spirits said, “Come to court and you'll hear it all.” Out on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard, earlier this year, Mallya was released by the Westminster Magistrates' Court judge on the same bail conditions and asked to appear in the court on December 4, with his extradition hearing confirmed to start eight days from then.
Headed by barrister Clare Montgomery, his defence team updated Judge Arbuthnot that the defence argument skeleton has been submitted last week and now “the ball is in the Indian government's court to present their reply by next week.” Montgomery also presented the judge with a “running order” of witnesses to be deposed in the case. She added that Indian authorities are “content with that order”. The judge should be ready to rule on the case by the agreed date, based on the defence timetable. However, considering the tight timeline for both sides to submit their closing arguments in writing, she suggested scheduling a half-day hearing in January after the oral closing submissions to conclude the trial in the new year instead.
Montgomery was, however, not in favour of the delay, as it would give the Indian government enough time to present new material to the case, and said the defence was keen to “draw a line under all the material- evidential and non-evidential.” Judge Arbuthnot agreed saying “things have a habit of popping up”, leaving things open for the moment. Appearing for UK's Crown Prosecution Service, on behalf of the Indian government, Aaron Watkins said as he was stepping in for CPS barrister Mark Summers, he would have to confirm the exact timeline with him.
The case will open on December 4, with opening arguments and witness statement from aviation expert Dr Humphreys. Mallya has repeatedly stressed that he has done nothing wrong, and will let the evidence speak in court.
