The Congress yesterday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of maintaining “conspiratorial silence on fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, and demanded to know who the “chief architect and protector of his escape” was.
Party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala demanded an independent probe into the episode and asked: “Who is the chief architect, protector and benefactor in Vijay Mallya’s escape?”
The party also demanded answers on who influenced a consortium of banks not to move Supreme Court to block Mallya’s escape.
Surjewala reiterated his party’s demand for Jaitley’s sacking.
“Despite startling revelations about a meeting between Mallya and Jaitley on March 1, 2016, both Modi and Jaitley have maintained “conspiratorial silence.”
The Congress leader said a consortium of banks had met Supreme Court senior advocate Dushyant Dave on February 28, 2016, for advice on the Mallya case. “Dave has gone on record that he advised the State Bank of India management to move the Supreme Court the next day and get Mallya’s passport confiscated. However, the SBI management and other banks never returned the next day for to act against Mallya or for blocking his escape,” Surjewala claimed.
“Who in the Modi government told the SBI and other banks to not move the Supreme Court?” he sought to know.
“Why did the banks wait till March 5 that year to move the Supreme Court when Mallya had already escaped on March 2. Does it not prove a sinister conspiracy to help Mallya,” Surjewala said.
“Mukul Rohatgi, the then attorney general and a close Jaitley friend, has also made a startling revelation that Mallya could have been possibly tipped off,” he said. “After this statement, on what basis can any agency refuse to initiate investigation into the great government-assisted escape of Mallya?” the Congress leader said.
Surjewala wondered who was directing the banks not to lodge charges against Mallya or to provide the full facts of loan defaults and diversion of funds to investigating agencies.
“If the prime minister does not act, it will be proved that the watchman is not only a partner but also guilty,” Surjewala added.
Meanwhile the SBI, yesterday denied reports of any laxity in moving the court to stop industrialist Vijay Mallya from fleeing abroad.
“The SBI denies that there has been any laxity on its part or its officials in dealing with loan default cases, including Kingfisher Airlines. The bank has been taking proactive and strong measures to recover the defaulted amounts,” the lead bank said in a statement.
Mallya is currently in London where a court finished hearing on India’s extradition case against him on Wednesday and is due to pronounce its verdict on December 10.
Activists and supporters of the Congress party wear masks bearing images of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, businessman Vijay Mallya and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as they protest in New Delhi yesterday against the BJP for allegedly allowing Mallya to leave the country.
