PMLA case: Vijay Mallya seeks more time to file reply to ED notice

NEW DELHI: A special court in Mumbai on Monday granted three more weeks to liquor baron Vijay Mallya to file his reply on Enforcement Directorate's application seeking to declare him a 'fugitive economic offender' under a new law, reported news agency ANI.Mallya will have to file a reply by September 24, after which the court will decide the course of the hearing.On August 27, the court had fixed September 3 as the next date of hearing in Mallya's fugitive economic offender declaration case as some other parties had sought to implead themselves in the matter pertaining to the alleged default of over Rs 9,000 crore bank loans.The same court, on June 30, had issued a notice to Mallya to appear before it on August 27 after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) charged the liquor baron under the new law as it enlarged its money laundering probe against him and others in a Rs 9,000 crore alleged bank fraud case.The central probe agency has also sought immediate confiscation of assets worth about Rs 12,500 crore of Mallya as part of this latest action.The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants against the businessman in two cases filed by the ED.Mallya, his now-defunct venture Kingfisher Airlines Limited and others availed loans from various banks and the outstanding amount, including interest, against him, is Rs 9,990.07 crore at present, the officials had said while filing the plea under the new law.The businessman is currently contesting his extradition case in London filed by the Indian government on behalf of the CBI and ED.