New Delhi: Business tycoon Vijay Mallya has refuted media reports that he has left the country to evade law enforcement agencies.
In an email interview with The Sunday Guardian, Mallya said,"Loan defaults are a business matter. When the banks give out loans, they know the risk involved. They decide, we don’t." He claimed that the banks gave him loans after evaluating all aspects
Alleging media for portryaing him like a villain, Mallya said,"Most of the big media houses are running a whole lot of lies about me. Speculations rule the papers. TV channels claim to have information about me from their sources. It’s a big agenda that some people are pushing against me.I am being victimised."
On being asked about his plans to return, Mallya said that he said that the time is not right for his return as he has already been branded a criminal.
He further raised doubts whether he would get a fair chance to present his side if he returns.
Mallya also refused to reveal his whereabouts saying,"I’m no hardened criminal who the authorities need to hunt. For now, I want to feel safe."
Mallya left the country earlier this month. Rejecting that he has fled India, he tweeted on Friday, "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," He did not disclose his location, but is believed to be at his luxury home, bought for 16 million dollars, in Hertfordshire village north of London.
He moved out of the country before a consortium of 17 public sector banks approached Supreme court to o prevent the flamboyant businessman from quitting the country.
Mallya was known as the “King of Good Times” before the 2012 collapse of his Kingfisher Airlines, which left thousands of workers unemployed and millions of dollars in unpaid bills.
