Robert Fernley Sahara Force India F1 Team Deputy Team Principal and Vijay Mallya Sahara Force India F1 Team Owner on the pit gantry.

SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — India have submitted an official extradition request to Britain to send back Vijay Mallya, a former liquor tycoon, to face trial after he fled the country owing more than $1 billion.

The Indian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it had filed the formal request with the British high commission in Delhi, in response to investigators that demanded Mallya be returned to face charges of financial fraud and defaulting on loans.

“We have today handed over the request for extradition of Mr. Vijay Vittal Mallya as received from the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] to the UK High Commission,” Vikas Swarup, ministry spokesman, said.

“We have requested the UK side to extradite him to face trial in India.”

Mallya has repeatedly refused to appear before Indian courts and investigators since his secret departure from the country to Great Britain last March. His exit came after he defaulted on loan payments to state-owned banks, and allegedly misused the funds. His financial dealings are reportedly being investigated by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation and the federal Enforcement Directorate, a financial crimes agency.

Mallya, who is known for living an extravagant lifestyle (he once referred to himself as “the King of Good Times”), was dismissed late on Wednesday from the board of United Breweries, the firm through which he once controlled his business empire. He had once transformed Kingfisher beer into a global brand, and ran a now-defunct airline with the same name, besides being the owner of a cricket side and a Formula One team.

He has more than half a dozen court warrants pending against him, and Mallya allegedly owes Indian banks at least $1 billion.