Vijay Mallya's recent claims that he informed the then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley about his departure from India in 2016 have resurfaced, igniting a fresh political debate and putting the spotlight back on the circumstances surrounding his exit. Mallya, wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering related to the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines, made this assertion in a recent podcast, triggering a wave of reactions from political parties and the media.
In the podcast, Mallya stated that he met Arun Jaitley before leaving for London and informed him of his travel plans. He claimed that he told Jaitley he was going to London to attend a meeting in Geneva and would return, requesting that the banks be told to negotiate a settlement with him. According to Mallya, this conversation took place as he was leaving Parliament and heading to the Delhi airport. He also added that he was unaware of any lookout circular against him at the time.
Mallya recalled the media storm that followed his departure, noting that Jaitley initially denied meeting him. However, after a Congress MP confirmed witnessing their interaction, Jaitley acknowledged a brief encounter, describing it as a "fleeting meeting" while walking out of Parliament. Mallya clarified that he never claimed to have had a formal meeting with Jaitley in his office.
In 2018, Jaitley addressed the issue in a Facebook post, stating that Mallya, as a member of the Rajya Sabha, had "misused that privilege" to approach him while he was leaving the House. Jaitley said that Mallya had uttered a sentence about making an offer of settlement, but he (Jaitley) had "curtly told him 'there was no point talking to me and he must make offers to his bankers.'" Jaitley emphasized that he did not receive any papers from Mallya and that there was no question of him ever giving Mallya an appointment to meet him.
The Congress party has seized upon Mallya's recent claims to attack the Modi government, alleging complicity and questioning how Mallya was allowed to leave the country despite being under investigation. Congress leader Pawan Khera took a swipe at the Modi government, calling it "Narendra's surrendered system." The party has also accused the government of turning "pakoda economics" into "bhagoda economics," referencing Prime Minister Modi's past comments about selling pakoras as a form of employment.
Mallya's statements have reignited the controversy surrounding the escape of several high-profile economic offenders, including Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, who fled India after being accused of embezzling funds from Punjab National Bank. The opposition has questioned the government's handling of these cases and the effectiveness of investigative agencies in preventing these individuals from leaving the country.
The timing of Mallya's resurfaced claims is also significant, given the ongoing efforts to extradite him from the United Kingdom to face trial in India. The UK courts have been hearing arguments in the extradition case, and Mallya's statements could potentially influence the proceedings. Mallya, who is now 69 years old and residing in the UK, faces multiple charges of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering related to the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines and the default on loans amounting to over ₹9,000 crore from Indian banks.
The controversy surrounding Mallya's claims and the subsequent political fallout are likely to continue in the coming days, with the opposition expected to raise the issue in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The government may face renewed pressure to explain the circumstances surrounding Mallya's departure and address concerns about the handling of economic offenders.
