Supreme Court Sentences Vijay Mallya To Four-Month Jail Term

The Supreme Court of India on Monday sentenced Vijay Mallya to four months of jail for violating court orders resulting in a conviction of contempt of court.

Mallya showed no remorse, the top court noted in the judgment. The bench presided by Justice UU Lalit also ordered for the reversal of the transaction that led to contempt of court by Mallya. The court has asked for the $40 million to be transferred back with an interest rate of 8%.

The top court had reserved its order on the quantum of punishment to be imposed on Mallya for contempt of court in March 2022. At the time, senior advocate Sanjoy Ghose had told BQ Prime that implementation of such a sentence, for individuals not in India, can be given effect to when the person is extradited.

In May 2017, the businessman was found guilty of contempt for transferring $40 million to his children in violation of the apex court's order.

At the time, Mallya was asked to appear and present his arguments on the quantum of punishment. Subsequently, he was allowed to make his arguments through his lawyers. Mallya failed to do either.

The apex court then took up the proceedings on sentencing.

During the hearing, the central government argued for maximum sentence against Mallya for contempt of court. Advocate Rajat Nair told the court that Mallya had willfully and intentionally abandoned the proceedings to obstruct justice.

Mallya's conduct had aggravated the contempt, and maximum punishment should be imposed upon him, Nair had said while arguing for the government.

The 2017 contempt order came on a plea by a consortium of banks led by State Bank of India. Mallya had allegedly transferred $40 million received from the British firm Diageo Plc to his son Siddharth Mallya and daughters Leanna Mallya and Tanya Mallya in "flagrant violation" of judicial orders passed by the Karnataka High Court, the banks told the court.

The high court had barred Mallya from transferring or alienating any movable and immovable assets to any person.