No delay in sharing papers with UK authorities: CBI

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday claimed that the documents related to extradition of former liquor baron Vijay Mallya were sent to the UK in February itself while supporting documents were also handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) much before the June 13 hearing in the case. The agency was reacting to reports that there was a delay from India in sharing Mallya case documents with the UK authorities.

The agency also clarified that the Tuesday hearing (June 13) in the UK was not related to Mallya's extradition. According to agency's spokesperson RK Gaur, the June 13 hearing was "for case management review" and not related to extradition.

"The purpose of case management review is to determine further steps to be taken in the case and to draw a timetable for extradition proceedings. It is not extradition hearing," the CBI spokesperson said.

Asserting that there was no delay "whatsoever", CBI says the main chargesheet and supplementary chargesheet of Rs 900 crore fraud case against Mallya, extradition dossier, relied upon documents, non-bailable warrant, sworn affidavit of Superintendent of Police of CBI and other documents like evidence containing falsities, misstatements and false representations of Mallya were forwarded before June 13 hearing.

CBI also made it clear that the UK court had not criticised India's extradition request during the hearing. "During the hearing on June 13, when the counsel of fugitive Mallya sought a date for March-April, 2018, Aaron Watkins of CPS opposed the same. To justify a later date, the defence counsel raised the issue of delay, which is nothing but a figment of his imagination," the CBI official said.

Adding further, he said, "The Specialist Prosecutor of CPS confirmed that during the proceedings on June 13, there was no criticism of the extradition request or of the Indian government. Senior district judge fixed next CMR hearing on July 6, 2017 when the dates for extradition hearing will be decided."

The CBI statement said that the chargesheet against Mallya was filed on January 24 this year in the Special CBI court in Mumbai after which a non-bailable warrant was issued against him on January 31.

It said that the request for extradition of Vijay Mallya was forwarded on February 9, 2017 to the UK authorities through diplomatic channels. The extradition dossier contained details of evidence including the chargesheet filed along with relied upon documents and non-bailable warrant of arrest.

A joint CBI and ED team led by additional director Rakesh Asthana had also met CPS prosecutors on May 2 and 3 in London on latter's request. The joint team provided all additional documents sought by CPS on May 2-3 and also answered the queries of prosecutors during the meeting, the CBI official said.