London,
A defiant Vijay Mallya, wanted in India for bank loan defaults amounting to nearly Rs 9,000 crore, today appeared before a local court in London for his pre-trial hearing where the liquor baron’s extradition hearing was confirmed for eight days starting December 4.

The 61-year-old businessman, out on bail on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard earlier this year, was released by the Westminster Magistrates’ Court judge on the same bail conditions and asked to appear on December 4.

The trial will last until December 14. “It will all become clear in court,” Mallya said,

Based on the defence timetable, the judge should be ready to rule by December 24. However, given the tight timeline to submit closing arguments in writing, the judge suggested a half-day hearing in January to conclude the trial in the New Year. Mallya’s barrister was not in favour of it.