RS Ethics Committee gives Mallya time before expulsion

New Delhi: The Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha on Monday confirmed that liquor baron Vijay Mallya will be removed as a member of parliament, but has given the business tycoon a week to show cause as to why he should not be expelled from the Upper House. "We are giving one week's time to Vijay Mallya to respond. He can say what he wants," Dr. Karan Singh, the chairman of the Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha, told reporters here. Singh further said that the Ethics Committee wanted to get Mallya's membership cancelled. "We have given him (Mallya) time, so that the procedure can be followed. But we strongly want the membership of Vijay Mallya to be cancelled," said senior JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav. As per rules, the Ethics Committee oversees the moral and ethical conduct of members. It examines cases concerning alleged breach of the Code of Conduct by members as also cases concerning allegations of any other ethical misconduct of members. Following the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) yesterday revoked Mallya's passport. This move by the MEA came within 10 days of the ministry suspending the beleaguered industrialist passport on April 15. Enforcement Directorate had also sought a non-bailable warrant against the Kingfisher Airlines' promoter which was passed by a special court last week.