This is how the cookie crumbles – Mallya granted bail till April 2nd by the UK Court

Magistrate mulls over the evidence, sets April 2nd as next date

Just yesterday we had written about how the prosecution maybe deliberately botching up the Mallya case because they took down evidence[1] under Indian Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) No. 161 instead of 164, the defence counsel for Vijay Mallya brought up this exact point, stating that a 150 page submission by the Prosecution had near identical material from purported witnesses. The Defence counsel, Clare Montgomery alleged that it was a cut-and-paste job as evident from the fact that many statements had the same typing errors[2]!

The next date of hearing is set for April 2nd as the Defence is still not done with its submissions. A ruling in this Westminster Magistrate’s Court can be appealed by either side in a higher court. And this soap opera will begin all over again.

What must be embarrassing for Indian Government is that the British Government’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is arguing for extradition on behalf of the Indian Government and will have egg on their faces for “poor” case construction by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). What gives credence to the suspicion that this was an insider sabotage is the name of the person who is heading this investigation in the UK – Rakesh Asthana.

Readers may remember how Asthana, whose name has figured in corruption related to two Ahmed Patel owned companies[3] was appointed as a Special Director, CBI over the objections of the Director of CBI, Alok Verma. That this appointment of Asthana was critical for some “vested” interests is now beginning to bear fruit.

Prime Minister Modi maybe adopting Winston Churchill’s tactic of Keep your friends close and enemies closer, but the way his team has been allowing internal sabotages to happen might make him ponder With friends like these, who needs enemies?

References:

[1] CBI Team botching up the extradition case of Mallya – Jan 11, 2019, PGurus.com

[2] UK: Vijay Mallya hearing inconclusive – Jan 12, 2018, Financial Express

[3] CVC minutes meeting expose how CVC selected Asthana over the CBI Director’s objections – Nov 25, 2017, PGurus.com

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