Mallya's Extradition Nears Completion, Bombay HC Makes it Clear: Return to India to Challenge Law
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The extradition proceedings against embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya are at an advanced stage, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta informed the Bombay High Court on Tuesday. Mallya has been challenging the constitutional validity of the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018, and a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court order declaring him an FEO. However, the division bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Akhand refused to hear Mallya's challenge to the FEO Act's constitutional validity unless he returns to India and submits to the jurisdiction of Indian courts. Mallya's counsel, Senior Advocate Amit Desai, argued that the FEO Act provides legal remedies for offenders and that Mallya is planning to make a representation to the central government to close pending cases against him. The court, however, made it clear that it will hear Mallya's petition questioning the special court order but not his constitutional challenge to the FEO Act until he submits himself to Indian courts. The matter has been posted for further hearing on February 12, 2026. Mallya fled India in March 2016, accused of loan fraud and money laundering. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act was enacted in 2018, prompting proceedings against Mallya under the law. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had attached Mallya's assets worth ₹14,000 crore, while his liabilities are limited to ₹6,000 crore. The court's decision highlights the Indian government's efforts to bring back fugitive economic offenders and hold them accountable for their actions. Mallya's extradition is expected to be completed soon, and his return to India may be imminent.
