Zee Media Bureau
New Delhi: With just few days left for the first hearing in the Vijay Mallya loan default case, questions have been raised as to whether the beleaguered businessman will make it in person before the Enforcement Directorate or not.
The hearing in the loan default case against Vijay Mallya by the ED has been fixed on March 18 (Friday).
However, certain events in the past one week and the weekend to come signals that Mallya may not make it to the hearing in person.
Earlier this week, the liquor baron, who is currently in UK, reportedly said he feels that he has already been branded as criminal in the country and therefore, it was not the right time for him to return.
As per reports, in an interview with Sunday Guardian, Mallya said he wanted to return to India but feared that he might not get to fair chance to present his side as he was already branded as a criminal.
Vijay Mallya reportedly left India on March 2 even as banks have approached the courts to seek orders restraining him from going abroad. However, it appeared that the move of the banks came to late.
Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, earliar this week, also said he will request the Supreme Court to ask liquor baron Vijay Mallya to appear before it, if required.
And while the question of Vijay Mallya coming back on March 18 remains a question, on internationl event that could prevent him from coming back is the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne which begins on March 18 too.
Mallya, the owner of the Britain-based Force India is a regular at the Grand Prix encourging the team at all times. Therefore, his presence this week at the Melbourne Grand Prix will be vital.
With the date of the hearing and Grand Prix coinciding and Mallya stating it was not right for him to return now, it is an open question.
