Mallya seeks new court appearance date in May

New Delhi: Former UB group chairman and liquor baron Vijay Mallya won't appear before the Enforcement Directorate today and has sought a new date in the end of May. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on April 2 had issued fresh summons to Mallya, asking him to appear before it on April 9. Mallya, who is wanted by law enforcing agencies for a default of over Rs. 9, 000 crores, did not appear before the ED on April 2 and sought an extension up to May. This is the third time that Mallya had sought an extension from the ED. The ED had earlier issued summons to Mallya to make a "personal appearance" on March 18 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following Mallya's extension request, the ED last week had issued a fresh summons to the liquor baron asking him to appear before it on April 2 in the money laundering case. Mallya is currently in the United Kingdom and is being sought out in India over charges of money laundering. But he has claimed that the banks gave him loans after evaluating all aspects and asserted that he is not trying to evade law enforcement agencies, but is on a personal visit.