Indian authorities register money laundering case against liquor baron

Indian authorities Monday registered a case of money laundering against the country's liquor and beer baron who was also the owner of a bankrupt air company, said officials.

The officials from the Enforcement Directorate, a government body in charge of financial criminal investigation, registered a money laundering case against Vijay Mallya, owner of Kingfisher Beer and other liquor brands, as well as chief financial officer of now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.

Earlier, the country's Central Bureau Investigation alleged that the businessman conducted "wilful default" of 9 billion rupees (132 million U.S. dollars) loan in conspiracy with a local bank.

Mallya, who is from the northwest state Punjab, was also earlier booked for alleged corruption and criminal conspiracy by the central investigation agency.

The IDBI Bank, which provided loans to him, was accused by the investigators of granting loans despite an adverse internal audit report revealing Mallya owing over 70 billion rupees (1.03 billion U.S. dollars) to his other financiers without due payment. Endit