Mystery of Vijay Mallya look-out circular: CBI diluted notice

Mangalore Today News Network

On October 16, 2015 the Central Bureau of Investigation, which was probing allegations of financial irregularities against Vijay Mallya, issued a notice saying that the liquor and airline tycoon should be detained if he tried to leave India.

On November 24, 2015 the CBI issued a fresh look-out circular (LOC) against Vijay Mallya. This notice said that the only action to be taken in case Mallya reached any port to leave India was to simply inform the CBI and let the businessman continue on his travels.

This was done, sources within the CBI told India Today TV, since the October 16 look-out circular had a "mistake". The notice was issued by the CBI’s Mumbai unit and an officer there ’mistakenly’ ticked the checkbox meant for detention while filling out the look-out notice, the sources said.

The mistake, apparently, came to light only on November 23 when Vijay Mallya was to leave India for a day-long foreign trip.

When he reached the airport, the Bureau of Immigration, which is tasked with regulating the inflow and outflow of passengers at ports, called the CBI to ask whether the October 16 look-out notice should be executed, the sources said.

The CBI told the agency: No.

The October 16 look-out circular had a mistake, the CBI explained. On November 24, the day Vijay Mallya was to return from his foreign trip, the agency issued the new circular.

The sources said that the CBI did not want Mallya detained as the businessman was cooperating with the officers investigating the allegations against him. And so, the new CBI look-out circular merely asked the Bureau of Immigration to "inform it about Mallya’s departure and travel plans".

After his November 23-24 trip, Mallya once again travelled abroad in December. The sources said that Mallya kept the CBI in the loop about his travel plans.

Mallya, however, did not inform the agency about the last time left India. He has not returned since and is currently in London where a court is hearing India’s request to extradite him back home.