London: Embattled liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya on Wednesday took to social media once again, this time to express his solidarity with Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal and repeat his own offer to repay all the money he owes to India’s public sector banks.
The 63-year-old, fighting his extradition to India on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to an alleged Rs 9,000 crores, claims private airlines were discriminated against by the Indian government, which bailed out state-owned Air India but did not assist his own Kingfisher Airlines and now Jet Airways.
“Even though Jet was a major competitor to Kingfisher at the time I feel sorry to see such a large private airline on the brink of failure when government used 35K crores (Rs 35,000 crores) of public funds to bail out Air India. Just being a PSU is no excuse for discrimination”, Mallya wrote in his latest intervention on Twitter.
Even though Jet was a major competitor to Kingfisher at the time I feel sorry to see such a large private airline on the brink of failure when Government used 35K crores of public funds to bail out Air India. Just being a PSU is no excuse for discrimination.
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019
He added in his tweet that he invested hugely into Kingfisher which rapidly grew to become India’s largest and most awarded airline. It’s true, Kingfisher borrowed from PSU Banks as well. But he has offered to pay back 100 per cent but am being criminally charged instead. Airline Karma?
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 ?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019
The former Kingfisher Airlines boss took yet another swipe at the media as well, claiming every offer he makes to pay back funds owed by his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines to PSU banks resulted in reports that claim he is spooked, terrified etc of being extradited from the UK back to India.
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 ?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019
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, he questioned.
Also read: Debt-laden Jet Airways plans to sell up to 75 per cent stake
On a more personal note directed at Jet Airways founder Goyal and his wife Neeta, the UB Group chief expressed his sympathy for the troubles being faced by the cash-strapped private airline, which has been forced to cancel a string of flights amid a mounting crisis.
“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, Mallya questioned.
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 ?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019
Mallya remains on bail as he awaits an oral hearing to be listed by the UK High Court for his appeal against his extradition ordered by Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London last December and then signed off by UK home secretary Sajid Javid in February.
A first level of that written appeal has already been rejected by the High Court, where it will now be considered during a brief hearing to determine any grounds to grant permission for Mallya’s appeal to proceed to appeal substantive hearing.
The businessman faces a series of unrelated legal battles in the UK courts, including a USD 40-million claim brought by drinks giant Diageo and an attempt by Swiss bank UBS to repossess his posh London home overlooking Regent’s Park.
Meanwhile, a State Bank of India (SBI) led consortium of 13 Indian banks continue their attempt to enforce a worldwide freezing order upheld by the UK High Court in May last year through a number of follow up court orders to try and recoup some of the GBP 1.145 billion owed to them.
Also read: What Jet Airways’ near-collapse says about India
The effort by the previous government to keep KFA airborne, leaning on the banks, has drawn political criticism, held up as an instance of crony capitalism and phone banking. Vijay Mallya’s larger than life persona may have something to do with it. However, the fact is that any conscientious government would wish to save a business from collapsing, for many reasons, including jobs. The bout of political exceptionalism that started with assailing everything that happened in the second half of UPA II continues. Governments need to be cut a little slack. Personally I have stopped following stories about what really happened on 26th and 27th February; as a citizen I want to believe the official version. Most people would, if it was not being made into an electoral issue. One hopes, after 23rd May, a new political culture can be inaugurated, one in which the opposition is regarded as much a stakeholder in the system as the government.