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After passport, Vijay Mallya may lose Rajya Sabha membership too

The government had on Sunday revoked the passport of Mallya, who is believed to be in the UK after leaving India on March 2.

New Delhi: The Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha is all set to recommend expulsion of Independent MP and liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the House. The panel, which is examining the matter related to his alleged loan default of over Rs 9,400 crore, on Monday unanimously favoured such action. However, the panel has decided to give Mallya one week’s time to explain his conduct. The panel is headed by veteran Congress leader Karan Singh. The government had on Sunday revoked the passport of Mallya, who is believed to be in the UK after leaving India on March 2.

“We have examined the entire issue related to Mallya’s case. The documents that we had sought from banks have also come. There was a unanimous view in the panel that he should be expelled from the House membership,” Singh said.

“But still we have decided to give him a week’s time to tell us whatever he has to say. The next meeting of the committee will be held on May 3, when we will take a final decision,” Singh said.

He confirmed that the committee is unanimous on the expulsion of Mallya “but we have to follow the procedures.” Speaking to reporters after the meeting, JDU’s Sharad Yadav said, “Mallya should be expelled from the Rajya Sabha and he will be expelled. This is the firm view of the committee. He has been given the time to complete the procedure”.

His view was seconded by CPM leader Sitaram Yechury who said that the opinion in the committee was that Mallya has no right to remain a member of Rajya Sabha.

The committee had sought details of the liabilities on Mallya’s airline Kingfisher from 13 banks. The committee decided to crack the whip on the ground that Mallya never declared these liabilities in the last ten years, which a member is supposed to do annually.

Acting on the notices given by Opposition members, the Chairman of the Upper House Hamid Ansari had referred the matter to the panel in March.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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