The Enforcement Directorate (ED) appeared before the Bombay High Court and asserted that the recent recovery of assets worth Rs 14,131.60 crore by a consortium led by the State Bank of India does not conclude the criminal case against former liquor magnate Vijay Mallya.
According to the ED, the restoration of assets under the Prevention of Money‑Laundering Act (PMLA) is a distinct process from establishing criminal liability; therefore, the recovered wealth does not erase the pending allegations of money laundering, diversion of loans and broader financial fraud tied to the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines.
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Mallya, who remains outside India, continues to face the charges despite the asset seizure, and the court will now consider the agency’s submission while the criminal proceedings remain open.
