The extradition process of businessman Vijay Mallya has begun to roll out, with the British government sending India’s extradition request to district judge.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Gopal Baglay said "The UK home department on February 21 conveyed that India's request for the extradition of Mallya has been certified by the secretary of state and sent to the Westminster magistrates' court for a district judge to consider the issue of releasing of a warrant.”

Vijay Mallya is wanted with regard to pending cases of loan default totaling more than Rs 9,000 crore.

Baglay said that on February 8th, a formal extradition request for Mallya was handed over to the British high commission in New Delhi in line with the India-UK extradition treaty.

Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitely was in the United Kingdom last month and was assured by the British leaders that they would take a “positive” view of the matter.

India had asserted that it has a “legitimate” case against Vijay Mallya, while handing over the request and also maintained that, if an extradition request is honoured, it would show British "sensitivity towards our concerns".

Supreme Court suggests out-of-court settlement for Ayodhya Ram Mandir

AMandeep