India suspends Mallya's diplomatic passport for four weeks

Mumbai

INDIA has suspended for four weeks a diplomatic passport issued to embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya, who left the country last month, after creditor banks of his defunct Kingfisher Airlines stepped up pressure to recover about US$1.4 billion in debt.

India's foreign ministry has given Mr Mallya, a liquor baron who is also a member of the Upper House of Parliament, a week to say why his passport should not be impounded or revoked, the ministry's spokesman, Vikas Swarup, said on Friday.