The Indian fugitive and businessman Vijay Mallya was sentenced to four months in jail and fined Rs 2000 by the Supreme Court on Monday for contempt of court in 2017. Mallya was found guilty of two counts of contempt of court by the SC on May 9, 2017. Both the “flagrant breach” of orders made by the Karnataka High Court and withholding information from the court concerning transferring USD 40 million to his children in defiance of the court’s order constitute the first offence.

A bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice UU Lalit today mandated that Mallya repay USD 40 million with interest within four weeks and fine of Rs 2000 as punishment. His properties will be attached if he didn’t comply, stated the court.

The panel of Justices UU Lalit, S Ravindra Bhat, and P S Narasimha of the Supreme Court reserved its decision on March 10 of this year. The fugitive businessman was offered multiple opportunities to appear before the SC in person or through counsel, but he avoided. The SC stated today, “we have said in the judgment of 2017 that the action of contemnor in disbursing USD 40 million was contempt. We must impose an adequate sentence on the contemnor to uphold the majesty of law and the amounts in dispute are available for execution.”

The judge further stated that throughout the trial, Mallya has shown no remorse.

Mallya had one more opportunity to appear before the Supreme Court Bench on February 10—he could do so in person or through a representative. The court had noticed that “sufficiently long” had passed.

On November 30, 2021, the Supreme Court made the decision to continue the proceedings to decide the length of Mallya’s sentence for contempt of court, stating that it could no longer wait for Mallya’s extradition from the UK.

“We cannot wait anymore now. Proceedings for extradition have attained finality and respondent no. 3 (Mallya) has exhausted all avenues of appeal in the United Kingdom. The matter (sentencing in contempt case) shall be dealt with finally on January 18, 2022,” the Bench ruled.

Mallya has already been charged with nonpayment on bank loans totaling Rs 9,000 crore related to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Since March 2016, Mallya has been residing in the United Kingdom after fleeing the nation. The London court ruled him bankrupt in July 2021. He has previously lost the court fight to prevent his extradition to India in May 2020. He hasn’t yet made it back, though, to stand trial.

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