Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is wanted in India over loan default, on Tuesday said he has become the ‘Poster Boy’ of bank default and a lightning rod of public anger. Mallya, who is currently fighting against extradition to India from the UK, clarified his factual position in a written statement according to multiple media reports.
India has been seeking extradition of Mallya from the UK, who fled to London in 2016. Sources have told Newsmobile that the CBI special director is personally monitoring the extradition case along with Indian High commission officials. The government is one step closer to getting Mallya back to the country to show it is committed to fighting corruption.
Breaking his silence after a long time Mallya said he had written letters to both the Prime Minister and the finance minister on April 15, 2016 to explain his side of the story.
“No response was received from either of them,” the statement said.
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He further said,”I have been accused by politicians and the media alike of having stolen and run away with Rs 9,000 crores that was loaned to Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). Some of the lending Banks have also labelled me a wilful defaulter”.
The 62-year old Mallya said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) have filed charge sheets against him “with various untenable and blatantly false allegations acting at the behest of the Government and lending Banks”.
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