NDA govt took no action against Mallya despite registration of CBI FIR: Cong

The Congress accused Thursday the Narendra Modi-led NDA government of taking no action against fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya, accused of Rs 9,000-crore bank fraud, despite registration of an FIR by the CBI in July 2015.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked who got the CBI "lookout notice" of October 16, 2015 changed for detaining Mallya to merely an "inform notice" on November 23, 2015.

He alleged a consortium of 17 banks led by the SBI moved the debt recovery tribunal for action against Mallya on February 28, 2016 but it was advised to move the Supreme Court. By the time court was moved he had already escaped, the Congress leader said.

"Who directed the banks to not to act and delay filing of the case in the Supreme Court, until March 5, 2016, so that Mallya can escape on March 2, 2016," he asked.

"Why did Finance Minister Arun Jaitley meet and discuss the loan default of Rs 9,000 crore with Vijay Mallya in Parliament? Is it legally, ethically and morally correct on part of Jaitley to hold such discussions with an economic offender against whom banks have filed a case," Surjewala asked.

The Congress leader said Mallya admitted to informing Jaitley that he was leaving for London but despite knowing about Mallya's intention of escaping "why did Jaitley not tell CBI/ED/SFIO/External Affairs Ministry to detain and arrest Mallya? Was he being tipped to escape?"
Refuting Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad's claim that party chief Rahul Gandhi had met Mallya, Surjewala said, "Unfortunately, an arrogant law minister spends more time in the BJP office than in the Law ministry."