Lawyer Advised SBI To Move Court 4 Days Before Vijay Mallya Fled

A petition against Mallya was finally filed on 5 March.

File photo of liquor baron and absconding businessman Vijay Mallya. 

(Photo: Reuters)

Four days before liquor baron Vijay Mallya left the country, State Bank of India did not act on the legal advice given to it to approach the court for an order restraining his travel, according to an The Indian Express report.

The laywer, Dushyant Dave, told The Indian Express that he offered this advice at a meeting with top SBI officials. SBI had an inkling he may flee.

“I advised SBI to approach the Supreme Court on February 29, 2016 (Monday), for getting an order restraining Mallya from leaving the country…SBI chairperson and people at the top within the government knew about this meeting and the advice given by me. However, there was no action taken on it.”

Dushyant Dave, as told to The Indian Express

Mallya left India four days later.

SBI Denies Report

He added that despite agreement to meet at the court the next day, the officials did not turn up. State Bank of India, the largest lender of Kingfisher Airlines, has denied laxity in dealing with loan default case related to the company.

An SBI spokesperson told The Indian Express:

“State Bank of India denies that there has been any laxity on its part or its officials in dealing with loan default cases including Kingfisher Airlines. Bank has been taking proactive and strong measures to recover the defaulted amounts.”

A petition had finally been filed by SBI on 5 March, after Mallya had left the country.

On Thursday, 13 September, a blame-game between the Congress and the BJP erupted over Vijay Mallya’s statement in London of having met Arun Jaitley before he left for London.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley 'gave free passage' for Mallya to escape, while the BJP hit back saying that the Gandhi family “partially owned” Kingfisher Airlines through proxy. Rahul Gandhi asked Jaitley to resign over the matter, charging "collusion" with the absconding liqour baron.

A judgment in Mallya’s extradition case will be made on 10 December, according to reports.

(With inputs from The Indian Express, IANS)