Fugitive economic offender Vijay Mallya on Thursday posted a series of tweets asking why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not instructing banks to accept the money he is offering to pay off the loans on Kingfisher.
Mallya’s tweets came a day after PM Modi apparently made a reference to him in the Lok Sabha while highlighting the government’s new law that confiscates the assets of fugitive economic offenders.
Calling the PM an “eloquent speaker”, Mallya wrote, “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.”
“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,” added the liquor baron who was declared a fugitive offender by a special PMLA court on 5 January this year.
Read More: Vijay Mallya becomes first tycoon to be declared fugitive offender
Mallya, who is wanted in the Rs 9,000-crore Kingfisher Airlines loan default case, said that he has “made the offer to settle before the Karnataka High Court”.
“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?” Mallya wrote.
He said that the Enforcement Directorate’s claim that he hid his wealth is “misleading but unsurprising”.
“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,” Mallya concluded.
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.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 14, 2019
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.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 14, 2019
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 ?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 14, 2019
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.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 14, 2019
Speaking in Parliament on the last day of the session before the nation heads to polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “The ones who have run away…is crying that I ran away with Rs 9000 crores, but Modi has taken back Rs 13,000 crore. After waking up in the morning, they realise that their assets have been confiscated. Next morning, they realise in some other country, other assets have been confiscated. This is the law which we made.”
The PM was apparently referring to Mallya, who had on 1 February tweeted that he wakes up every morning to the news of another attachment by the DRT recovery officer.
“Every morning I wake up to yet another attachment by the DRT recovery officer. Value already crossed 13,000 crores. Banks claim dues including all interest of 9,000 crores which is subject to review. How far will this go and well beyond ? Justified ??” reads Mallya’s tweet.
Every morning I wake up to yet another attachment by the DRT recovery officer. Value already crossed 13,000 crores. Banks claim dues including all interest of 9,000 crores which is subject to review. How far will this go and well beyond ? Justified ??
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) February 1, 2019
A consortium of 13 banks — led by the State Bank of India (SBI) — has been preparing to initiate loan recovery proceedings against Mallya, who fled India for the United Kingdom in March 2016.
On 5 February, the British government approved Mallya’s extradition to India, which has already been allowed by a lower court.
Read More: UK government approves Vijay Mallya’s extradition
A note issued by Press Officer Bethany Ditzel, citing a UK Home Office spokesperson, said: “On 3 February, the Secretary of State, having carefully considered all relevant matters, signed the order for Vijay Mallya’s extradition to India.
“Vijay Mallya is accused in India of conspiracy to defraud, making false representations and money laundering offences. He has 14 days from today to apply for leave to appeal.”
After the British Home Secretary’s order on his extradition, Mallya can move the Special Immigration Appeals Commission — also known by the acronym SIAC — which is a superior court of record in the United Kingdom established by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997. It deals with appeals from persons deported by the Home Secretary under various statutory powers, and usually related to matters of national security.