Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail to become Vijay Mallya's new home?
The Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai will be liquor baron, Vijay Mallya's new home if he is extradited to India from UK to face the law regarding Rs. 9,000 crore loan default cases. This decision will be conveyed to a British court next week via the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which is arguing the extradition case against Mallya on India's behalf.
Why Arthur Road Jail?
Mallya's lawyers challenged India's extradition order saying that the liquor baron's life might be under threat if he's extradited to India where prisons reportedly have serious security lapses and allegations of human rights violations against them. However, India is set to inform the Westminster Magistrate Court that the Arthur Jail meets international standards in terms of security, medical facilities, and protection of prisoners' rights.
Only one extradition has taken place between India and UK
Although India and UK have had an extradition treaty since 1992, only one extradition has taken place under the arrangement till date. In October 2016, Samirbhai Vinubhai Patel was extradited to India in connection to his alleged involvement in the post-Godhra riots of 2002.
Extradition proceedings to begin on 4th December
The Westminster Magistrate Court will hear the extradition proceedings starting from 4th December. If the verdict goes in favour of extradition, the UK Home Secretary has to order Mallya's extradition within two months of the day of the verdict. However, the case can go through a series of appeals before coming to a conclusion, thereby making it difficult to predict a date of conclusion.
