Vijay Mallya Asks Why PM Narendra Modi Not Asking Banks to Accept His Money Offers
In a series of tweets, Vijay Mallya said PM Modi made a veiled attack on him in his speech in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, claiming that he had made 'honest' offer to pay dues.
New Delhi, February 14: Absconding liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Thursday asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi not asking banks to accept money he is offering. In a series of tweets, Vijay Mallya said PM Modi made a veiled attack on him in his speech in Lok Sabha on Wednesday, claiming that he had made 'honest' offer to pay dues. Mallya also denied reports that he hid his wealth.
"The Prime Ministers last speech in Parliament was brought to my attention. He certainly is a very eloquent speaker. I noticed that he referred to an unnamed person who “ran away” with 9000 crores. Given the media narrative I can only infer that reference is to me (sic)," Mallya tweeted. He then asked PM Modi why he was not instructing banks to take the money he had offered. Vijay Mallya Case: ED Files Reply to SBI Plea for Speedy Liquidation of Seized Properties of the Fugitive Businessman.
"Following on from my earlier tweet, I respectfully ask why the Prime Minister is not instructing his Banks to take the money I have put on the table so he can at least claim credit for full recovery of public funds lent to Kingfisher (sic)," Mallya said. "I have made the offer to settle before the Hon’Ble High Court Court of Karnataka. This cannot be dismissed as frivolous. It is a perfectly tangible, sincere, honest and readily achievable offer. The shoe is on the other foot now. Why don’t the Banks take the money lent to KFA? (sic)" he added.
Mallya further refuted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claim that he hid his wealth. "Am appalled to say the least at the media reports on the Enforcement Directorate claims that I hid my wealth ! If there was hidden wealth how could I put approximately 14,000 crores worth of assets openly in front of Court ? Shameful misleading of public opinion but unsurprising (sic)," he said in another tweet. Vijay Mallya Says 'Will Initiate Appeal Process' After UK Clears His Extradition to India.
Earlier this month, the ED said Mallya had no intention of paying back loans of over Rs 5,500 crore to a consortium of banks. Mallya, 63, left India on March 2, 2016, after defaulting on loan amounting to Rs 9,000 crore he had taken for his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines but he has repeatedly denied fleeing the country, saying he is ready to pay back the money he owed to the Indian banks.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 14, 2019 09:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).