Vijay Mallya Says PM Modi Is Lying About The Recovery Of His Debts, Hits Out At Banks Too

Fugitive former liquor baron Vijay Mallya who is facing extradition to India has hit out Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the banks accusing them of lying. In a tweet, Mallya alleged that the PM in a recent interview has claimed that the banks have already recovered the amount he owed, but the banks have told something different in the UK court.

None other than the Prime Minister of India specifically says in an interview that his Government has recovered more money than I allegedly owe PSU Banks and the same Banks claim otherwise in English Courts. Who does one believe ? One or the other is lying.

¡ª Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 18, 2019

Mallya was referring to an interview of PM Modi to a Hindi news channel where he said that, ¡°He (Mallya) owed banks Rs 9,000 crore but the government has confiscated his properties worth Rs 14,000 crore from across the world."

AFP/ FILE

Earlier, he had accused the government of ¡°discriminating¡± between state-owned and private airlines and accused them of bailing out Air India while the same was not given to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways which announced the suspension of service on Wednesday.

I invested hugely into Kingfisher which rapidly grew to become India¡¯s largest and most awarded airline. True, Kingfisher borrowed from PSU Banks as well. I have offered to pay back 100 percent but am being criminally charged instead. Airline Karma ?

¡ª Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019

Every time I say that I am willing to pay 100 percent back to the PSU Banks, media say I am spooked, terrified etc of extradition from the U.K. to India. I am willing to pay either way whether I am in London or in an Indian Jail. Why don¡¯t Banks take the money I offered first ?

¡ª Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019

Even though we were fierce competitors, my sympathies go out to Naresh and Neeta Goyal who built Jet Airways that India should be extremely proud of. Fine Airline providing vital connectivity and class service. Sad that so many Airlines have bitten the dust in India. Why ?

¡ª Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019

Mallya once called the 'King of Good Times,' ran into financial troubles after his Kingfisher Airlines incurred loses after loses and eventually seized operations.

He owed around Rs 9,000 crore in loans to the bank tried to reach a settlement with the lenders' consortium, failing which he fled the country to evade arrest.

Even while he was fighting the extradition case, Mallya had reached out to the banks and the government to express his willingness to settle the loans.