Bombay HC pulls up Mallya for sharing ED affidavit online

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday issued a warning to businessman Vijay Mallya, accused of money laundering, against posting court documents on social media while his case was pending.

Justice Milind Jadhav was informed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) lawyer Ashish Mehta that Mallya shared the agency’s affidavit in response to his petition before the HC on his social media accounts even before it was submitted to the court. The ED filed the affidavit on September 8 and served it to Mallya’s legal team the same day. The case was to be heard on September 9, advocate Mehta told the court. But the former liquor baron uploaded the affidavit on his social media accounts the same evening, the ED lawyer said. Justice Jadhav asked senior advocate Amit Desai, appearing for Mallya, to warn his client not to do so in future.

“This is not good conduct. This is serious. Please warn him (Mallya) against doing so in future. Whatever he wants to submit he can do so in court,” the court said. “Please make your client understand, this is not the way to do it….it undermines the efficacy of the court,” the judge said. Mallya filed the petition in 2020 seeking a closure of the criminal cases registered against him, claiming that the dispute with the banks was settled after they recovered their dues.