No plans of plea bargain, Mallya says on ED official’s statement

New Delhi, June 30: Liquor baron Vijay Mallya refuted allegations of attempting a plea bargain, levied by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) official.

"Media reports quote an ED official stating that I am attempting a plea bargain. Would respectfully suggest that the official read the ED charge sheet first. I would invite the ED to advance the same plea bargain theory in Court in front of whom I have placed my assets," Mallya tweeted.

Mallya's retaliation came after an ED official dismissed the former's offer to settle all dues if his seized assets were freed up as "an attempt at plea bargaining and a bid to bolster his case against extradition to India from Britain," as per an Economic Times report. The official further claimed that the ED had not received any copy of the affidavit filed by Mallya and United Breweries Holdings before the Karnataka High Court last week, contrary to the businessman's claims.