NEW DELHI: In a development that has sent fresh tremors through the political corridors of Delhi, embattled liquor baron and former Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya has stirred a hornet's nest by publicly asserting that he is “not a thief” and that he left India only after informing the then Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The explosive revelation has given the opposition, particularly the Congress, fresh ammunition to attack the Narendra Modi-led government, alleging complicity and selective inaction in high-profile financial fraud cases.
Mallya, now 69 and residing in the United Kingdom, is facing multiple cases of criminal conspiracy, fraud, and money laundering in India related to the collapse of his airline and the default on loans amounting to over ₹9,000 crore from Indian banks.
In a recent statement made to media outlets in London, the former Rajya Sabha MP claimed that before he left India on March 2, 2016, he had met Arun Jaitley in an effort to negotiate a settlement with the consortium of banks and had informed him of his travel plans.
“I did not flee India. I left openly and with a valid passport after informing the government,” Mallya said, adding that his departure was no secret and that he was even in touch with government officials during the period. He specifically mentioned that he met Jaitley in Parliament a day before his departure and expressed his desire to reach a financial settlement.
According to reports, Jaitley — a powerful minister in Modi’s first cabinet — allegedly declined to intervene, stating that the matter was already sub judice in the Supreme Court. The apex court was scheduled to hear the case just 48 hours later, on March 3, 2016. Mallya, however, proceeded to leave India via Geneva to London, where he has since remained, despite repeated extradition efforts by the Indian authorities.
The Congress party wasted no time in seizing the opportunity, launching a scathing attack on the Modi government. Senior Congress leaders questioned how someone accused of defrauding Indian banks could leave the country without government knowledge.
“This is yet another example of how the Modi government protects its cronies. Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi — all were allowed to escape,” Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a press briefing.
Financial and legal experts have also raised eyebrows at the latest claims, with some noting that Mallya’s proximity to key BJP leaders after the party came to power in 2014 may have influenced the government’s response at the time. “The fact that Mallya could approach the Finance Minister directly and request intervention is unusual, and raises questions about access and privilege,” said a senior Delhi-based political analyst.
With this latest revelation, the narrative around fugitive economic offenders is likely to dominate the political discourse once again. As the Supreme Court continues to hear the various cases against Mallya, his public statements have not only reignited public memory but also put the Modi government on the defensive over its handling of high-profile financial scandals.
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