Mallya's interview: Cyber Cell receives application from liquor baron's representative

The Mumbai Police's Cyber Cell on Tuesday said they have received an application from a representative of United Breweries Group chairman Vijay Mallya in connection with an interview of the liquor baron published by The Sunday Guardian.

Confirming the development, Cyber Cell Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajkumar said, "We have received an application from Mallya's representative, which will be referred for further follow up."

Mallya, in a purported statement, claimed that he had not given any email or any interview to anyone, including The Sunday Guardian.

"I have not given any email or any interview to anyone, including The Sunday Guardian. The email account that has been attributed to me does not belong to me. Every comment, therefore, is fabricated," claimed Mallya.

He further said, "I have filed a complaint with the Cyber Police Station in Mumbai. The editor of the paper has also publicly admitted on Twitter that he would investigate the matter as this tantamounts to fraud and needs to be seriously investigated."

In all fairness, said Mallya, "All TV channels and newspapers, who have quoted from the interview should publish a retraction.

According to The Sunday Guardian, Mallya in an email interview said "The time was not right for his return to India".

The Sunday Guardian, however, stands by its interview of Mallya, which it claimed was given to the newspaper on March 12.

"Mr Mallya personally responded to our email questionnaire from his encrypted email id: vjmallya@protonmail.com. This id was confirmed to us by his legal counsel's office on 8 March. To a questionnaire sent to Mr Mallya on 10 March, he replied via email on 12 March. For reasons that are not clear, Mr Mallya has sought to distance himself from the interview. We, however, stand by our report. The email trail is attached," the newspaper claimed.