Extradition trial of Vijay Mallya begins at London court

The extradition trial of Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on charges of nine thousand crore rupees fraud and money laundering begun at a court in London, UK yesterday. The prosecution asserted that the embattled liquor baron had a "case of fraud" to answer. 

The trial started with the Crown Prosecution Service, arguing on behalf of the Indian government, presenting its opening arguments in the case which focused on loans totalling around two thousand crore rupees sought by the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines from a consortium of Indian



banks. 

It concluded the opening day's proceedings by asserting that they had "shown by virtue of evidence a prima facie case" against Mallya and the hearing should now move to the next phase of whether there were any "bars to extradition". 

A four-member CBI and Enforcement Directorate team from India arrived at the court ahead of the trial.Mallya, who has been out on bail since Scotland Yard executed an extradition warrant in April this year, will be in the dock for the duration of the trial scheduled to end on December 14.