Delhi Court issues non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya; seeks MEA's support

In more trouble for Vijay Mallya, Delhi's Patiala House Courts issued non-bailable warrants against the liquor baron on Saturday, in the 2012 cheque-bounce case filed against him by the GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd.Metropolitan Magistrate Sumeet Anand passed the order for bringing Mallya in court on 4 November, with the direction that the non-bailable warrant be sent to him by Ministry of External Affairs as he is reportedly in London.The court said, "Despite repeated orders Vijay Mallya hasn't appeared in Court. Need to take coercive steps to ensure his appearance in Court."They also said that it is inevitable for the state machinery to intervene, to ensure Mallya's presence during the summons.The trial court had summoned Mallya as accused following a complaint by GMR-led Delhi International Airport (DIAL), which operates the Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, claiming that a cheque for Rs one crore issued by Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) on 22 February, 2012 was returned to them a month later containing remarks "fund insufficient".DIAL had filed four cases in June 2012 against Mallya over Kingfisher Airline's cheques totalling Rs 7.5 crore not being honoured.[caption id="attachment_2939028" align="alignleft" width="380"] A file photo of Vijay Mallya. AFP[/caption]The airline had issued the cheque for using the facilities at the airport for the flights.As per GMR counsel, a total of 17 cases have been filed against Kingfisher Airlines in different courts over outstanding amount of Rs 22.5 crore which it owes to GMR and the cases are in different stages of trial.GHIAL had in October 2012 withdrawn a case over 'bounced' cheques against Mallya after the airline agreed to pay the outstanding amount due to the airport operator.However, Kingfisher made only a part of the payment and defaulted on the rest, prompting the airport operator to approach the court.Mallya has defaulted on payment of loans to the tune of Rs 9,000 crore to various banks.Earlier, the Delhi High Court had also refused to quash summons issued by a trial court against Mallya.In the High Court, a lawyer handling Mallya's case had alleged that the liquor baron was not involved in the daily affairs of Kingfisher Airlines, and thus could not be held liable in the cases filed. But the court had refused to quash the summon.With input from agencies