India/UK: India applies to extradite Kingfisher tycoon Mallya from UK

India said Thursday it had applied to Britain to extradite Vijay Mallya to face trial after the liquor and aviation tycoon was charged with conspiracy and fraud over a loan to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Mallya moved to Britain last March after banks sued to recover about $1.4b the Indian authorities say is owed by Kingfisher. He has dismissed the charges against him, saying on Jan. 28 that "not one rupee was misused". The new push comes after Mallya was charged in absentia last month by the Central Bureau of Investigation - along with nine former executives from the failed Kingfisher Airlines and IDBI Bank Ltd - over a 9 billion rupee ($135 million) loan.<br/>