The Supreme Court has said the contempt matter involving fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, accused in bank loan default case of over Rs 9,000 crore involving his defunct Kingfisher Airlines, will be dealt with finally on January 18 next year.

Observing that the apex court has waited "sufficiently long", a bench headed by Justice UU Lalit said, "We can't be waiting any longer now." The bench noted that Mallya was held guilty of contempt in 2017. The bench, also comprising Justices SR Bhat and Bela M Trivedi, said Mallya is at liberty to advance submissions, as are deemed appropriate, and if for any reason, he is not present before the court, a lawyer on his behalf can advance submissions.