Absent but active: Home Ministry responds to Vijay Mallya's 3 questions

After the Ethics Committee recommended the immediate expulsion of liquor baron Vijay Mallya from the Rajya Sabha on 4 May, the Home Ministry responded to the three questions put forth by him.

His questions ranged from the Karnataka State Motor Vehicles (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 to the government plans of setting up coastal police stations.

Mallya had asked whether the Karnataka government had referred to the Karnataka State Motor Vehicles (Special Provisions) Bill, 2015 to obtain the consent of the President of India, and asked when the assent to the Bill would be notified to the state government.

The Indian Express quoted the ministry as saying that the President's assent had been obtained and had been sent to the state government on 15 February, 2016.

Mallya also inquired if the Karnataka government had referred to the Home Ministry, the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2015 for obtaining the assent of the President. He demanded to know when the assent would be conveyed to the state. The daily reported that the said Bill was analysed after consulting with the concerned central ministries and their perspectives on the Bill were communicated to the state.

Mallya wanted to know whether the state government had plans to set up Coastal Police stations and whether the strength of the Railway would be increased.

The daily quoted the Home Ministry as saying that they had received no such proposals from the state government.

Mallya was also keen to seek information about India's proposed bullet train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. In the notice, he questioned the feasibility of the project and requested information on who would fund the project.