Guilty without fair trial in eyes of Centre, says Vijay Mallya

PTI

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The court had on Thursday reserved orders on two pleas of banks seeking contempt action against Mallya.

Vijay Mallya

New Delhi: Embattled tycoon Vijay Mallya on Friday accused the government of holding him guilty without a “fair” trial as he faces heat in the Supreme Court over loan default.

A day after the Supreme Court asked Mallya about his assets and transfer of $40 million to his children, he took to the twitter to clarify his position.

He also offered to negotiate with banks to pay one time settlement charge on his Rs 9,000 crore loan default. “I have humbly obeyed every single Court Order without exception. Seems as if Government is bent upon holding me guilty without fair trial,” he said in one of the tweets.

The court had on Thursday reserved orders on two pleas of lending banks seeking contempt action and a direction to him to deposit $40 million he had received from

offshore firm Diageo respectively.

“The allegations against me by the Attorney General before the Honourable Supreme Court only prove the attitude of the Government against me,” Mallya said in another tweet.

Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi and senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for the banks, had yesterday contended that unless Mallya deposits $40 million before this court, he does not deserve to be heard and, moreover, he needed to appear personally as the contempt notice has already been issued.

“Public Sector Banks have policies for One Time Settlements. Hundreds of borrowers have settled. Why should this be denied to us?,” he said in a tweet as he sought negotiations with banks to pay a one-time settlement charge on Rs 9,000-crore loan default.

He said his offer for settlement have been rejected by the lenders without consideration.

“Our substantial offer before the Hon'ble Supreme Court was rejected by Banks without consideration. Am ready to talk settlement on fair basis,” he said. “Wish the Hon'ble Supreme Court would intervene and put an end to all this by directing Banks and us to negotiate and settle.”

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