Mallya summoned to court on pilot's petition

A court in Bulandshahr (Uttar Pradesh) has asked the Bangalore Police to ensure the presence of Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya before it on October 31 on a pilot's petition alleging that the company was withholding his dues.

Finding Mallya "prima-facie" guilty of fraud and criminal breach of trust (under section 420 and 406 of IPC), Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Umakant Jindal had summoned him along with company CEO Sanjay Agrawal, and Vice Chairman Roopi Arya to be present in court on October 6.

However, the three were not present for the hearing, following which CJM Jindal has ordered the Bangalore Police Commissioner to ensure the summons are served and the trio is present in the court on October 31.

The order of the court came in wake of a complaint filed by a co-pilot of the airline contending that the accused were not paying his dues amounting to over Rs 28 lakh, arising out of complainant's 22-months salary.

Akash Sharma, the complainant, asserted that he had joined Deccan Aviation Company as a co-pilot in 2006 which was later taken over by Kingfisher that later abandoned its operation in 2012.