Ethics Committee of RS recommends Mallya's expulsion with

Cracking the whip, the Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha today recommended the expulsion of liquor baron and Independent MP Vijay Mallya with immediate effect, rejecting his defence on the matter and dismissing his resignation.
Mallya is facing a case of loan default of over Rs 9,400 crore and his resignation sent to Rajya Sabha Chairman already stands rejected.
"Having considered the whole matter, including Dr Mallya's letter, the Committee on Ethics unanimously decided at its meeting on May 3 to recommend to the House that Dr Vijay Mallya be expelled with immediate effect," the Committee on Ethics headed by senior Congress leader Karan Singh said in the report.

In its 10th report tabled in the Upper House today by Singh, the panel said, "The Committee hopes that by taking such stern action, a message would reach the general public that Parliament is committed to take such steps as are necessary against erring members to uphold the dignity and prestige of this great institution."
The Upper House will now take a call on the recommendation made by the ethics panel in the report "on the non-disclosure of liabilities such as the loans taken from different banks in his assets and liabilities returns by Dr. Vijay Mallya, Member, Rajya Sabha."

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari had on Tuesday turned down his resignation on procedural grounds while the Ethics Committee also found loopholes in his defence and decided to recommend his expulsion after having examined his reply.

Mallya, in his letter in response to the panel's offer to explain his position, "has raised some legal and constitutional issues which are not tenable, because the Supreme Court has clearly upheld the power of the Rajya Sabha to expel its members for gross misconduct unbecoming of a Member of the House", the Ethics panel report said.
The panel said "it is a matter of regret that Dr Mallya has thought it fit to impugn the (Supreme Court) judgment and impartiality of the Committee on Ethics as well as the entire House."

The issue was raised in Rajya Sabha on March 19 during which a demand was raised to refer the matter to Ethics Committee. On March 14, Ansari referred the matter to the panel. In its first meeting on the same day, the committee called for basic information from the ministries and agencies concerned on the loan default matter.