Vijay Mallya breaks his silence

Since his indictment for money laundering in October 2017, Vijay Mallya had been very discreet. This Tuesday, via a press release published on his Twitter account, the Indian businessman wanted to provide his point of view on his personal situation.

“After a long period of silence, I felt that the time had come for me to state my position in response to the controversy that unfortunately surrounds me, begins Mallya in his press release, five pages long.

I have been accused by politicians and the media of having embezzled and absconded with over a billion euros, loaned to Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). Several of the lending banks have labeled me as being in voluntary bankruptcy.

The Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Bureau (the entity of the Ministry of Finance in India that handles financial crimes) have accused me with several untenable and blatantly false allegations, at the behest of the government and lending banks.

The Enforcement Office has also placed assets belonging to me, companies in my group or belonging to my family, under the aegis of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, for an amount equivalent to more than a billion and a half euros.

In short, I became the poster child for bank default and the lightning rod for public anger. »

Mallya, who indicates having sent two letters to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance in April 2016, missives which remained unanswered according to him, then exposes his truth on the loans granted to KFA, completely legally according to the businessman, all such as the restructuring of these loans. The use of these funds was clarified by Vijay Mallya.

The Team Principal of Force India, still defined as such in the communication of his team which will celebrate its 200th Grand Prix in Austria this weekend, also returns to the accusations of voluntary bankruptcy by detailing its offers to regularize its situation.

Mallya also indicates that he has taken steps to repay creditors. “I am tired of this relentless pursuit by the government and its criminal agencies. All my efforts are ignored or misunderstood. Loan recovery is a civil matter that was criminalized in my case. » also mentions Mallya.