Erstwhile Indian business tycoon, Vijay Mallya who presently residing in the UK has rejected the news on Thursday (6) that his offer to repay all his dues to the Indian banks was linked to the extradition of UK national Christian Michel to India in AgustaWestland chopper scam.
The liquor baron urged the banks to take back their money as he wants to end the narrative that he stole public money.
“Respectfully to all commentators, I cannot understand how my extradition decision or the recent extradition from Dubai and my settlement offer are linked in any way. Wherever I am physically, my appeal is “Please take the money”. I want to stop the narrative that I stole money,” Mallya tweeted on Thursday.
Grounded Kingfisher Airline boss on Wednesday (6) in a series of tweets had urged the banks to accept his offer to pay back 100 per cent of the principal loan amount. Mallya has also rejected the news that his offer is linked with the extradition proceeding being completed in the UK to extradite him to India.
The tweets by Mallya has come just a few hours after alleged AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal agent Christian Michel was brought to India from UAE. India’s first successful extradition since India started same proceedings against economic offenders such as Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, and others.
The former liquor baron who is on bail in the UK on an extradition warrant after his arrest in April 2017 and is on his legal battle against efforts undertaken by India investigators to extradite him to India on charges of fraud and money laundering worth Rs 90 billion.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court is expected to pass its judgement on Mallya’s extradition trial in London on December 10.
The extradition case was started at the London court last year with an objective at laying out a prima facie case of fraud against Mallya and establishing there are no hurdles to him being extradited to face legal proceeding in India over the allegations related to loans made out to his Kingfisher Airlines.
Yet another court case in the UK, Mallya had also lost his appeal in UK’s Court of Appeal against a High Court order in favour of 13 Indian banks to recover loans nearly £1.145bn.
The incident occurred on the same day Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer addressed the audience at London Tech WeekGetty Images