Mallya gets bail hours after getting arrested by Scotland Yard

Embattled Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya, who has been declared a proclaimed offender, was arrested in London by Scotland Yard on India's request for his extradition on fraud charges.

The 61-year-old liquor baron, wanted in India for defaulting on loans, was arrested after he appeared at a central London police station.

The flamboyant businessman, who once called himself 'The King of Good Times', was released on bail a few hours later.

Scotland Yard, said, "Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Extradition Unit this morning arrested a man on an extradition warrant. Vijay Mallya was arrested on behalf of the Indian authorities in relation to accusations of fraud."

The Metropolitan Police said Mallya was arrested after attending a central London police station.

He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London and was seen walking out with his legal team a few hours later after being granted bail.

"Usual Indian media hype. Extradition hearing in Court started today as expected," Mallya tweeted soon after getting the bail.

Senior Indian officials described his arrest as the first salvo in the case, which will now involve a legal process in the UK to determine if Mallya can be extradited to India to face charges in Indian courts.

The arrest comes weeks after Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had indicated that Mallya's extradition would feature in his talks during his visit to the UK.