UK court rejects Vijay Mallya's plea against extradition

The U.K. High Court on Monday rejected liquor baron and fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya's plea to appeal against his extradition to India.

In February, UK's Home Office said the British government had signed an order to extradite Mr. Mallya to face charges of fraud and money laundering, following the judgment handed down by Westminster Magistrates Court Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot in December last year.

Subsequently, Mr. filed an application in the U.K. High Court, seeking permission to appeal against the extradition.

Sources have confirmed on Monday that the High Court in London has rejected Mr. Mallya's application. The court itself has confirmed that an order has been sent to both parties.

It is, however, not necessarily the end of the story. This application to appeal was made on paper - via the exchange of documents between the judge and both sides.

Now Mr. Mallya's legal team can make a renewal application for a brief oral hearing before the same court, in another attempt to push for an appeal hearing. If it were to be rejected at this stage, there would be no further recourse in terms of the appeal process, though if he were successful, an appeal hearing would then take place.

Mr. Mallya, wanted in India for alleged fraud and money laundering amounting to an estimated ₹9,000 crores, is currently on bail on an extradition warrant in the U.K.