An arrest warrant has been issued for Vijay Mallya, the owner of Kingfisher Airlines, after he failed to adhere to a court summons over bounced cheques.
According to reports, the warrant has been issued by a court in the city of Hyderabad in southern Indian.
It relates to a case brought by Hyderabad International Airport after cheques for airport charges, worth 103m rupees (£1.2m), bounced.
Mallya is also an MP in the Indian parliament and chairman of India’s largest brewing company, which makes Kingfisher beer.
Meanwhile, the troubled airline has been given 15 days to persuade India’s aviation ministry why it shouldn’t be grounded permanently.
Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has said the airline would have to submit a concrete plan to DGCA on safety and salary payments, before it is allowed to resume flights.
With seven years of losses and a heavy debt load, Kingfisher’s future has been further clouded by flight cancellations and staff unrest over unpaid wages which has seen them refuse to work until they are paid what they are owed.
The airline has extended its closure until 20 October after failing to persuade its striking staff to return to work.
The airline has been grounded since the beginning of October after some staff walked out in protest against months of unpaid wages.
