A Rajya Sabha ethics committee on Wednesday recommended the immediate expulsion of legislator and former liquor baron Vijay Mallya, ANI reported. The committee said that by taking stern action and expelling Mallya, the Parliament would show that it is committed to taking action against erring members. Mallya left India for the United Kingdom on March 2, after stepping down as chief of United Spirits. He owes 17 banks in India around Rs 9,000 crore.

On Wednesday, Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari rejected Mallya's resignation letter, as it was a scanned copy and thus, did not bear Mallya's original signature. The entrepreneur has been a member of Parliament since 2010.

Mallya recently told the Financial Times that he would not return to India and that he was in “forced exile” because things were flying at him “fast and furious”. He also said he felt he would not get a “fair trial” in India. He has refused three summons by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case. His passport was revoked by the External Affairs Ministry on April 24.