Vijay Mallya applies for UK asylum

Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, who is facing extradition to India after the High Court rejected his appeal in April 2020 and he was refused permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, has reportedly applied for asylum in the UK pursuant to Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (“ECHR”) which prohibits “inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”.

The former Kingfisher Airlines tycoon is wanted to stand trial in India on charges of fraudulent misrepresentation and conspiracy to defraud. He is alleged to have fled India having wilfully defaulted on loans  of more than £977m. The allegations are denied by Mr Mallya who contends that the charges are politically motivated.

Mr Mallya’s application was first reported in the Indian press, and his legal team has refused to comment on the case.