The Indian government on Friday suspended the passport of Vijay Mallya as the agency probes money laundering allegations against him.

As per source, The Enforcement Directorate on 13 April sought revocation of the passport of liquor baron Vijay Mallya who has failed to appear before the agency thrice in connection with its money laundering probe in the Rs 900 crore IDBI bank loan fraud case.

A group of 18 banks, most of them state-run, have turned down two offers by Mr. Mallya to pay off their loans in installments. They said that Mr. Mallya must meet them in person for negotiations it on 9 April. Mallya, who flew to an overseas destination on 2 March, did not heed the summons and sought time until May for appearing personally before the agency.

The investigative agency issued a third and final summons to Mallya, asking him to be personally present before it on 9 April. Mallya, who flew to an overseas destination on 2 March, did not heed the summons and sought time until May for appearing personally before the agency.

Mr. Mallya, once called the “King of Good Times” for his extravagant lifestyle, set up Kingfisher Airlines in 2003. After collecting huge financial losses, it stopped functioning in 2012; former employees are still owed wages.