Vijay Mallya makes public appearance at F1 event in UK

Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, who is an accused in a bank loan fraud case in India, made a public appearance to attend the team bosses' press conference on 8 July ahead of the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in the United Kingdom.

According to media reports, Mallya attended the press conference alongside fellow team principals Maurizio Arrivabene (Ferrari), Eric Boullier (McLaren), Dave Ryan (Manor), Claire Williams (Williams) and Toto Wolff (Mercedes).

Indian authorities have been trying hard to put their hands on defunct Kingfisher airlines head Mallya.

He was also spotted last month (June) at a book launch event at the London School of Economics. The event was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Navtej Sarna.

Mallya, who has been in the UK since March, has been declared a 'proclaimed offender' by a special court in a money laundering case back home. The creditors in India have also been trying to recover dues of Rs. 9,000 crore owed by his long-grounded Kingfisher Airlines.

The liquor baron is going through tough times but his team Force India has had a successful season so far.

The British Grand Prix is considered a home race for Force India, whose factory is a stone's throw away from the circuit.

-With PTI inputs