Chairman Hamid Ansari accepts Vijay Mallya’s resignation from Rajya Sabha: Kurien

Deputy Chairman P J Kurien on Wednesday announced that Vijay Mallya's resignation from Rajya Sabha has been accepted by Chairman Hamid Ansari.

Cracking the whip, the Ethics Committee of Rajya Sabha had recommended the expulsion of liquor baron and Independent MP Vijay Mallya with immediate effect, rejecting his defence on the matter and dismissing his resignation.

Mallya is facing a case of loan default of over Rs 9,400 crore and his resignation sent to Rajya Sabha Chairman already stands rejected.

"Having considered the whole matter, including Dr Mallya's letter, the Committee on Ethics unanimously decided at its meeting on May 3 to recommend to the House that Dr Vijay Mallya be expelled with immediate effect," the Committee on Ethics headed by senior Congress leader Karan Singh said in the report.

In its 10th report tabled in the Upper House today by Singh, the panel said, "The Committee hopes that by taking such stern action, a message would reach the general public that Parliament is committed to take such steps as are necessary against erring members to uphold the dignity and prestige of this great institution."

The Upper House will now take a call on the recommendation made by the ethics panel in the report "on the non-disclosure of liabilities such as the loans taken from different banks in his assets and liabilities returns by Dr. Vijay Mallya, Member, Rajya Sabha."

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari had on Tuesday turned down his resignation on procedural grounds while the Ethics Committee also found loopholes in his defence and decided to recommend his expulsion after having examined his reply.

(with PTI inputs)