Vijay Mallya's diplomatic passport suspended: MEA
"On the advice of the Enforcement Directorate, the Passport Issuing Authority in the Ministry of External Affairs has today suspended the validity of Mr. Vijay Mallya's diplomatic passport with immediate effect for a period of 4 weeks, under section 10 A of the Passports Act, 1967," read the MEA statement.
"Mr. Mallya has been asked to respond within one week as to why his passport should not be impounded or revoked under Section 10(3)(c) of the Passports Act , 1967. If he fails to respond within the stipulated time, it will be assumed that he has no response to offer and the MEA will go ahead with the revocation," it said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) sought revocation of liquor baron Vijay Mallya's passport on Wednesday after he failed to appear before the Directorate despite being summoned thrice in connection with the over Rs 900 crore IDBI loan fraud case.
Last week, Mallya had informed ED that he will not be able to appear in person owing to ongoing legal proceedings at the Indian Supreme Court but his legal team will meet ED.
Mallya, chairman of the now defunct Kingfisher Airlines for which he had taken huge bank loans, missed all three dates set by ED, which is probing the case.
ED had issued notices to Mallya asking him to appear on April 9 following the two extensions given to him from the earlier dates of March 18 and April 2. according to reports.
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