A special magistrate court here which convicted Kingfisher Airlines chairman Vijay Mallya in connection with two cheque bounce cases filed by GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited on Wednesday directed GMR to furnish correct address of Mallya for issue of fresh warrants against him. The court adjourned its further order on the cases to June 6.
The direction asking GMR to furnish the address of Mallya was given as Mumbai police had filed a report before the court saying warrants issued against the beleaguered industrialist could not be executed on his address as it was sealed by the State Bank of India and the “said person is not available at this address”. Hence, the warrants were returned.
The court issued non-bailable warrants against Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya and senior company official A. Raghunathan after trial over bouncing of two cheques issued by the airline was completed three months ago. Mallya was, however, not attending the court.
The cases were posted for Wednesday for order on quantum of sentence for Mallya though the court convicted him under provisions of Negotiable Instruments Act on April 20.
Mallya was charged with defaulting airport user as the cheques issued by Kingfisher Airlines Limited bounced because of insufficient funds in the bank account.
The GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited which operates the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad got the cheques towards charges for providing the facilities at the airport for the flights of Kingfisher Airlines.
The airline issued two cheques of Rs 50 lakh each towards part settlement of money due to GMR.
During hearing on quantum of sentence in the court on Wednesday, GMR lawyer G. Ashok Reddy argued that the court was empowered to pass the sentence against Mallya as per provisions of Criminal Procedure Code. The court could impose the sentence even in the absence of the accused. He said a total of 17 cases were filed against Kingfisher Airlines in different courts of the country over dues of Rs 22.5 crore outstanding to GMR and the cases were in different stages of trial.
The GMR was understood to be contemplating moving a higher court for verdict in the case as the trial was over and the charges were proved against Mallya and the Kingfisher management.
