Those borrowing public money, must pay or land in jail: BJP on Mallya's arrest

Crediting the Centre for Vijay Mallya's arrest in London, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao on Wednesday asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent out a message to those who borrow public money, must pay up or land up in jail.

"The government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sent out a stern message to those who borrow and misuse public money, must pay up or land up in jail. The way the government has acted on Vijay Mallya's case shows the interest and commitment taken by them," Rao told ANI.

Taking a jibe at the Congress party, Rao further stated that when Congress was in power they encouraged these illegal acts in the country.

"The culture of corruption that prevailed in this country since the Congress' rule owes many answers to the people in the country. Vijay Mallya was treated like the son-in-law of the country," Rao said.

Resonating similar views, BJP's general secretary Anil Jain also praised Prime Minister Modi's efforts in Vijay Mallya's arrest case, saying the government had put up a strong case on the liquor baron in the United Kingdom and all legal procedures were followed properly.

"The Indian Government has done a good job to get Vijay Mallya back to India, as they had followed all the legal procedures properly. The government was very alert regarding this matter," Jain said.

Yesterday, Mallya, while downplaying the din surrounding his sensational arrest in London, took a swipe at the Indian media.

"Usual Indian media hype. Extradition hearing in Court started today as expected," he tweeted.

Following Mallya's arrest, the Scotland Yard issued a statement saying that the absconding businessman was arrested on behalf of the Indian authorities in relation to accusations of fraud.

"Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Extradition Unit have this morning, Tuesday 18 April arrested a man on an extraction warrant. He was arrested after attending a central London police station, and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court later today, 18 April," read the official statement of the Scotland Yard.

His arrest came after a Delhi court had issued an open-ended non-bailable warrant against Mallya in connection with the 1995 FERA violation case.

Last month, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that Mallya's extradition has been stratified by the Secretary of State of the U.K. Government and added that a warrant would soon be released against him.