A metropolitan court in suburban Andheri in Mumbai on Saturday issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Vijay Mallya, the promoter of defunct Kingfisher Airlines. He has been charged in a case of cheque bouncing, filed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

In May, Magistrate A.A. Laulkar had directed Mr. Mallya to appear before the court on July 16, 2016, failing which will result in a NBW. The NBW was followed by Mr. Mallya’s absence on Saturday.

The court was hearing applications which were filed by AAI, against M/s. Kingfisher Airlines in connection with two cheques of Rs. 100 crores , had been dishonoured.

The applications filed by the AAI sought cancellation of permanent exemption from court appearance granted to Mr. Mallya, who had left the country amid an outcry over his airline defaulting on repayment of over Rs. 9,000 crore to the banks, and sought an arrest warrant against him.

AAI’s lawyer had argued earlier in the court that in cancellation of Mr. Mallya’s passport, his lawyer may not be able to produce him in the court.  

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By Prakriti Neogi