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Charges 'preposterous', I'm in 'forced exile': Mallya
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SME Times News Bureau | 30 Apr, 2016
Industrialist Vijay Mallya, at
the centre of a controversy in India over alleged loan default of
Rs.9,000 crore, has termed the charges against him as "preposterous" and
said he was in "forced exile" here from which he would like to return
to his country.
"I'm absolutely not guilty of any of the
preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher Airlines and
buying properties," Mallya said in an interview to the Financial Times.
"I'm in a forced exile, willing to reach reasonable debt settlement."
Questioning
the amount of Rs.9,000 crore attributed as wilfull debt against him,
the 60-year-old industrialist said by taking away his passport or
arresting him, the Indian government and banks won't be able to get any
money out of him.
"I definitely would like to return to India.
Right now things are flying at me fast and furious. My passport's been
revoked. I don't know what the government will do next. I've always said
I will like to reach out to the bankers of Kingfisher and make a
settlement," he said.
"Notwithstanding the legal proceedings, my
offer for settlement stands. The filings before the debt recovery
tribunal indicate some 500 million pounds. The rest is toward unapplied
interest. I've never been able to understand where this Rs.900 million
figure came from," he said.
He said he has issued a sworn
affidavit to the Supreme Court and the right position will come to light
if a proper probe is conducted. "If the government decides to audit the
accounts of Kingfisher airlines, they are not going to find anything --
because that is the truth."
Mallya said "extraordinary pressure"
was being exerted on him, but he can't give preference just to banks
since there were other creditors as well.
"All I can say is that
the manner in which my passport was revoked and then suspended was
unprecedented and was done in extraordinary haste. I came to know of the
facts by email," he said, adding the notice of suspension of his
passport came on holiday and that his reply was ignored.
He further said if he has proposed a settlement offer to the apex court, it had to be serious.
Mallya
said he tried all that was possible to save Kingfisher Airlines, but in
vain. "But I have currently businesses in India, and I wish to continue
with them. They are doing very well. I'm currently in forced exile."
As
for his lifestyle, often termed as flamboyant, the industrialist said
he was a rather simple man. "There is nothing wrong in wearing colourful
piece of clothing," he said.
"I think those who need to know
certainly know that I have been the brand ambassador. The king of good
times was the label for Kingfisher Airlines. I was, for whatever reason,
known as the king of good times -- but now obviously, the king of bad
times.
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