Have become poster boy of bank default: Vijay Mallya

Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is wanted in India over loan default amounting to thousands of crores, has said he has become the "Poster Boy" of bank default and a lightning rod of public anger.

"In summary, I have become the “Poster Boy” of Bank default and a lightning rod of public anger," he said in a letter to media.

Breaking his silence after a long time, to state the "factual position in response to the controversy unfortunately surrounding" him, Mallya said he had written letters to both the Prime Minister and the finance minister on April 15, 2016 to explain his side of the story.

"No response was received from either of them," he said in a statement.

Back on April 15, 2016, Mallya had written to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, blaming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for the failure of his Kingfisher Airlines. Copies of those letters have been released to the media on Tuesday by his company officials in Bengaluru.

He further said,"I have been accused by politicians and the media alike of having stolen and run away with Rs 9,000 crores that was loaned to Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). Some of the lending Banks have also labelled me a wilful defaulter".

In the letter, he has blamed Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate of hounding him. "I am tired of this relentless pursuit of me by the Government and its "criminal agencies". All my efforts are either ignored or misunderstood," he said.

In a tirade of charges against both CBI and ED, Mallya concludes, "If the criminal agencies such as ED or CBI object to my proposal, and object to the sale of assets, it will clearly demonstrate that there is an agenda against me beyond recovery of dues to Public Sector Banks."

Enforcement Directorate (ED), last week, moved court against Mallya seeking to declare him a “fugitive offender” and to confiscate his assets worth Rs 12,500 crore.

The request is part of the second charge sheet filed in the alleged money laundering case in the Kingfisher Airlines Ltd (KFA) loan default of over Rs 9,000 crore.