London's Westminster Court on Tuesday extended the bail of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya in connection with the extradition case. The matter will be next heard on September 12.
Ahead of the hearing, Mallya denied money laundering allegations against him and said, "The allegations of stealing money or money laundering are all completely false. I am in the hands of the court and I hope it will all end."
During the course of hearing, prosecution lawyer Mark Summers, who was representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), showed some photographs as the concerns were raised via a publication, released by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), about the state of the prison where Mallya will be kept, if extradited from the UK.
Summers said that Mallya will be kept in Barack 12 of the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai which is hygienic and clean. He also informed that the prison has a western toilet and proper washing facilities.
The CBI representative further said that the bed which will be provided to Mallya will be changed and cleaned on regular basis.
Summers also denied any structural collapse in the prison as mentioned in the NHRC report, and said that it has recently been renovated.
He also confirmed that Mallya, who will be staying in Barack 12 will be taken regularly for his court hearing till he gets convicted in the extradition case.
However, Mallya's Attorney Clare Montgomery said that the evidence presented by Summers cannot be relied on and added, "The photographs presented showed enough light but where the light is coming from, it is not clear. The whole Barrack is covered with steel walls. The building within the building has no access to sunlight."
After hearing the prosecution lawyer and defence barrister's argument, Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot requested for a video of the Mumbai jail.
"The video must be shot during mid-day. She (Clare Montgomery) is not expecting direct sunlight but there should be clear evidence of some light entering the Barrack," Judge Emma said.
The prosecution lawyer agreed to provide the video which the judge said must be received within three weeks.
Mallya is on bail in an extradition case against him on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to around Rs 9,000 crore.
Earlier on June 30, Mallya was summoned by a designated court under Fugitive Economic Offenders to appear before it on August 27. The notice was issued to Mallya and others in connection with Enforcement Directorate's June 22 application to declare him as a fugitive economic offender and to confiscate his properties.
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