Former RCB owner Mallya arrested in the UK

Vijay Mallya, former owner of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, was arrested, and later granted bail, in the UK on Tuesday following an extradition warrant from Indian authorities.

The warrant in the UK was issued in relation to accusations of fraud surrounding his failed Kingfisher Airlines company, which is reported to owe banks over a billion dollars. Mallya had his passport revoked by the Indian government last year and has been living in the UK in what he termed "forced exile" in an interview with the Financial Times last May.

He was arrested at a central London police station on Tuesday and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, where he was granted bail for £650,000.

"Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Extradition Unit have this morning, Tuesday 18 April arrested a man on an extradition warrant," a police statement said. "Vijay Mallya, 61 (18/12/1955), was arrested on behalf of the Indian authorities in relation to accusations of fraud."

Mallya's United Breweries Group had purchased the franchise in 2008 for $111.6 million, making it the most expensive in the league after Mumbai Indians. Last year, Mallya stepped down as director of the Royal Challengers Sports Pvt Ltd (RCSPL), which ran the Royal Challengers franchise. RCSPL is a fully owned subsidiary of United Spirits, which in turn is part of the Diageo Plc, a UK-based business group. Amrit Thomas, who is RCSPL chairman, was also appointed as head of the Royal Challengers franchise.

Royal Challengers are yet to win an IPL title, but have finished runners-up in three seasons of the tournament - 2009, 2011 and 2016.