Govt's 'lax and slow approach' delayed Mallya's extradition: Prashant Bhushan

Expressing contentment over acknowledgement of Vijay Mallya's extradition case in a London court, senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday held the government responsible for its lax and slow approach towards the liquor baron's extradition.

Bhushan opined that Mallya's extradition would take more than six months depending upon how seriously the government takes the extradition proceedings.

"I am glad that he has finally been arrested because he was allowed to leave this country by the government by withdrawing the red corner notice or the lookout notice. Not much was done in the last one year to get him extradited," Bhushan told ANI.

Bhushan further said that the government should pursue the extradition request against the other fugitives like Lalit Modi and others fleeing from the law.

"Even in Vijay Mallya's case, the government should have sought his extradition and arrest long ago," he said.

Downplaying the din surrounding his sensational arrest in London, Mallya, who is on the run over money laundering charges, took a swipe at the Indian media.

"Usual Indian media hype. Extradition hearing in Court started today as expected," he tweeted.

Earlier today following Mallya's arrest, the Scotland Yard issued a statement saying that the absconding businessman was arrested on behalf of the Indian authorities in relation to accusations of fraud.

"Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Extradition Unit have this morning, Tuesday 18 April arrested a man on an extraction warrant. He was arrested after attending a central London police station, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today, 18 April," read the official statement of the Scotland Yard.

His arrest came after a Delhi court had issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against Mallya in connection with the 1995 FERA violation case.

Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that Mallya's extradition has been stratified by the Secretary of State of the U.K. Government and added that a warrant would soon be released against him.