Former liquor baron Vijay Mallya has reportedly resigned from the Rajya Sabha, after a parliamentary ethics panel had recommended expelling him. Mallya resigned in a letter in which he said, "I don't want my name and reputation to be further dragged in the mud and since recent events suggest that I will not get a fair trial or justice, I am hereby resigning as a member of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect," NDTV reported. The Rajya Sabha however, said it had not received his resignation yet.

He was a member of the House since 2010, and has been in the United Kingdom since March 2. The embattled businessman left the country soon after stepping down as the head of United Spirits, and owes 17 banks in India around Rs 9,000 crore. There are two non-bailable warrants out for his arrest.

Last week, Mallya said he was in "forced exile" and has no plans of returning to India. This came after he refused three summons by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money landering investigation. The ED alleged he diverted part of his Rs 900-crore loan from IDBI bank to buy property overseas. His passport was revoked by the External Affairs Ministry on April 24.