The Supreme Court on Monday asked banks to reply to former liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s plea that sought the recall of an order asking him to disclose his assets, reported IANS. The consortium of banks, led by the State Bank of India, needs to file their reply within 10 days. The bench comprising Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman will hear the matter next on September 27.

However, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the 17 banks, told the court that Mallya’s plea should not be entertained as he failed to appear before the court despite repeated orders, reported Mint. He argued, “There is no reply filed to the contempt petition. But more importantly, there is no appearance. If he’s not appearing ... he can’t be heard.”

The banks had asked Mallya to disclose his assets. After he failed, they filed a contempt petition that said Mallya and his company, Kingfisher Airlines, have tried to sell assets to defeat the proceedings initiated against them. On July 25, the apex court issued a contempt notice against him. Mallya's lawyer Mahesh Agarwal, however, said that since no settlement of his dues with the banks was taking place, Mallya was not obliged to disclose his assets and hence there was no contempt.

Mallya is accused of several loan defaulting cases and owes around Rs 9,000 crore to 17 Indian banks. He has been living in the United Kingdom after he fled the country on March 2.