Supreme Court on Monday sentenced fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to a four-month prison term and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 after he was found guilty of contempt of court back in 2017, where he withheld information about transferring $40 million to his children’s accounts in clear violation of the court’s orders, news agency ANI reported. The top court has asked Mallya to deposit the amount with interest, failing which, his properties will be attached.
“Considering the facts and circumstances on record and the fact that the contemnor never showed any remorse nor tendered any apology for his conduct, we impose sentence of four months and fine in the sum of Rs 2,000,” the bench said in its order.
“In case the amounts are not so deposited, the recovery officer concerned shall be entitled to take appropriate proceedings for recovery of said amount and the Government of India and all agencies concerned shall extend assistance and complete cooperation,” the bench further stated in its order.
“In the circumstances, in order to maintain the majesty of law, we must impose adequate punishment upon the contemnor and also pass necessary direction so that the advantage secured by the contemnor or anyone claiming under him are set at nought and the amount in question is available in execution of the decree passed in the concerned recovery proceedings,” the bench added.
Mallya is already accused of defaulting on bank loans worth Rs 9,000 crore in connection with his now-defunct Kingfisher airlines. Mallya had fled the country and has been residing in the United Kingdom since March 2016.
(With inputs from PTI)
