Justice RF Nariman on Monday recused from hearing a petition by liquor baron Vijay Mallya challenging confiscation of his properties by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The Supreme Court directed the matter to be listed before an appropriate Bench.

Mallya had sought a stay from the apex court in July last year on the confiscation of properties owned by him and his relatives, including two superyachts, a game reserve in South Africa, numerous undeclared high-value and vintage cars, valuable paintings and a piano previously owned by famous British singer-songwriter Elton John which the Bombay High Court had allowed being confiscated.

Mallya, who fled to the UK in 2016, has consistently maintained that the Centre has fabricated the charges of financial irregularities against him despite his willingness to clear his unsettled loans.

Previously, a Special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court had allowed banks to auction Vijay Mallya’s assets worth Rs 11,000 crore.

—India Legal Bureau