Autosportfoto

Force India Formula 1 team boss Vijay Mallya arrested in London

Force India Formula 1 team boss Vijay Mallya has been arrested in London, the Metropolitan Police has announced.

In February, India sent a formal request for Mallya to be extradited under the Extradition Treaty between India and the UK.

Authorities in India are chasing Mallya for around £900million they claim he owes in the wake of the collapse of one of his former businesses, Kingfisher Airlines, in 2013.

Mallya had his diplomatic passport revoked last April, with a warrant issued for his arrest, and he has since been residing in the UK.

The British Grand Prix was the only F1 race he attended last season.

Last year, Mallya said he had "nothing to hide" in the face of what he considered to be a "witch hunt" being waged against him in India.

Mallya is expected to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Tuesday following his arrest.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Extradition Unit have this morning, Tuesday 18 April arrested a man on an extraction warrant.

"Vijay Mallya, 61, was arrested on behalf of the Indian authorities in relation to accusations of fraud.

"He was arrested after attending a central London police station, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today, 18 April."

Following the statement, Mallya tweeted: "Usual Indian media hype. Extradition hearing in Court started today as expected."

Zdroj: autosport.com