Court asks SBI to file fresh affidavit as Mallya challenges his designation as a Fugitive Economic Offender
Mumbai, September 2026 : The Bombay High Court has cautioned UK-based businessman Vijay Mallya against posting court documents on social media while proceedings related to the money laundering case against him remain pending, a lawyer said on Tuesday. The warning followed an objection by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Mallya uploading the agency’s affidavit on X before the court had considered its contents.
Advocate Ashish Mehta, representing the ED, said the agency had objected to the publication of its affidavit on social media while the matter was still being heard. The development comes amid Mallya’s continuing legal challenges in India concerning his status as a Fugitive Economic Offender and the money laundering proceedings against him.
The High Court has posted the matter for further hearing on October 13 and directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to file a fresh affidavit taking into account the disclosures made by the ED.
The proceedings relate to petitions filed by Mallya challenging legal actions taken against him. One of the petitions contests his designation as a “Fugitive Economic Offender” under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, while another challenges the order formally declaring him a fugitive economic offender.
The ED has maintained that recovery of bank dues and restoration of attached assets do not bring the money laundering proceedings to an end. In an affidavit filed earlier this month, the agency said assets worth Rs 14,131.6 crore had been handed over to the SBI-led consortium, but argued that such recovery was separate from criminal proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Mallya has previously argued that his liabilities to banks have been addressed and has questioned the continuation of the criminal proceedings. He has also repeatedly referred to his legal position in the United Kingdom while explaining why he has not returned to India.
During an earlier hearing in February, Mallya told the High Court that he was unable to specify when he would return to India, citing restrictions imposed by courts in England that he said prevented him from leaving the country. His counsel, senior advocate Amit Desai, submitted that extradition proceedings in the UK were continuing and that Mallya was aware of the proceedings.
Desai also referred to Supreme Court judgments in which writ petitions had been considered despite the petitioners not being physically present.
The High Court, however, questioned Mallya’s position regarding his appearance before the Indian court and sought greater clarity on his reliance on orders passed by UK courts. The Bench indicated that such orders could not automatically be treated as a blanket justification for his absence, particularly without clarity on whether they had been challenged.
The court had earlier directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to respond to Mallya’s affidavit. It also asked Desai to place on record, through a detailed affidavit, statements made during the proceedings so that the Union government could respond appropriately.
Mallya left India in 2016 and has since faced prolonged legal proceedings in India and the UK. His cases include proceedings related to alleged financial irregularities involving the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, money laundering allegations and his designation under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
The Bombay High Court’s latest proceedings will continue on October 13, when the parties are expected to place their respective positions and affidavits before the court.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
