A Delhi trial court on Friday issued a non-bailable warrant against former liquor baron Vijay Mallya for evading summons issued to him in connection with a case relating to the violation of the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, PTI reported. The court said Mallya had no regard for Indian law and had no intention to return to the country.

The court added that Mallya's claims of wanting to return to India but not being able to do so because of his passport being revoked was an abuse of process. Mallya had claimed the central government had suspended his passport earlier in the year, but the Centre said the businessman could have easily applied for an Emergency Certificate at an Indian Embassy or High Commission.

The warrant was issued after the Supreme Court on October 25 asked the businessman to furnish details of his foreign assets. A bench of the top court had asked him to file an affidavit within four weeks, disclosing what he did with the $40 million (Rs 266 crore approximately) that Diageo Plc had paid him for his shares in United Breweries. The court will take the matter up again on November 24.

India is also likely to press for Mallya's extradition during British Prime Minister Theresa May's three-day visit to the country, which begins on Sunday, according to Mint. India has already requested the British government to extradite Mallya, where he faces several cases as well as owing creditors over Rs 9,000 crore in unpaid loans.

The embattled businessman left India on March 2 after stepping down as chief of United Breweries. He had said earlier that he is unlikely to return to the country. United Breweries recently announced that Mallya will continue as chairman of the company, though the Securities and Exchange Board of India had ruled that wilful defaulters cannot hold board positions at listed companies or raise money from the securities markets.