I have not fled India, says Vijay Mallya

Updated: Friday, March 11, 2016, 12:16 [IST]

New Delhi, Mar 11: I have not fled the country says former chairman of the UB group Vijay Mallya.

In a series of tweets early this morning, Vijay Mallya said that he is an international businessman and he travels to and from India frequently. I did not flee from India and neither am I an absconder, Mallya said in his tweet.

There had been an uproar after the CBI stated that he had left the country on March 2 itself when the DRT began hearing a plea by the bankers. Further, the Attorney General of India also told the Supreme Court that Mallya had left the country and a directive should be issued stating that he be present in court along with his passport.

What Mallya is saying?

Mallya took exception to one particular television channel. In that tweet he says that the editor of the channel needs to be in prison clothes and eat prison food for libel, deceit, slander and absolutely sensational lies. He further states, " I am an international businessman. I travel to and from India frequently. I did not flee from India and neither am I an absconder. Rubbish."

The next tweet goes on to state, "As an Indian MP I fully respect and will comply with the law of the land. Our judicial system is sound and respected. But no trial by media." Further he states, " Let media bosses not forget help, favours,accommodation that I have provided over several years which are documented. Now lies to gain TRP ?"

"News reports that I must declare my assets. Does that mean that Banks did not know my assets or look at my Parliamentary disclosures? Once a media witch hunt starts it escalates into a raging fire where truth and facts are burnt to ashes," Vijay Mallya also states.

Look out circular:

Meanwhile the confusion over the look out circular issued against Mallya continues to persist. The CBI had issued a look out circular in October 2015. However, it appears now that the nature of the circular had changed.

While the first circular barred him from travelling abroad, it was changed according to the CBI. The amended circular only directed the immigration to keep a watch on him. The immigration had to report each time Mallya was leaving the country.