The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it can wait no more for fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to get extradited from UK and that it will proceed in the case on January 18, for quantifying the punishment to be awarded to him.
Mallya was held guilty of contempt of court for transferring $40 million to his children, in violation of a court order.
The Centre informed the court that the extradition of Mallya to India from the UK has attained finality. But certain "secret proceedings" are pending in the UK, details of which are not known.
The top court said whatever be the case, the contempt matter will be dealt with on January 18.
A bench headed by Justice UU Lalit, further said it is up to Mallya to appear in person or advance arguments through his counsel.
"The matter has to see the light as it is getting adjourned from 2017, when he was found guilty of contempt. Only sentencing is pending for last four years," the court said.
In the earlier hearing, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) had told the top court that the extradition of Mallya was ordered by the highest court of the United Kingdom but it has not been put into effect.
The Supreme Court had earlier dismissed a plea by Mallya seeking a review of the court's May 2017 order holding him guilty of contempt for transferring $40 million to his children in violation of the court's order. It also sought his presence on October 5 last year and had directed the MHA to ensure his presence in the courtroom on that day.
Mallya is accused of a bank loan default of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines and is presently in the United Kingdom.
The Supreme Court had issued its May 9, 2017, order on a plea by a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI), claiming he had allegedly transferred $40 million received from British firm Diageo to his children in "flagrant violation" of various judicial orders.
Earlier, the apex court had asked Mallya about the "truthfulness" of his disclosure of assets and the transfer of money to his children.