Liquor tycoon and Kingfisher owner Vijay Mallya on Wednesday took Twitter to express his solidarity with Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal. Alongside, he also repeated his own offer to repay all the money he owes India's public sector banks.
Even though we were fierce competitors, my sympathies go out to Naresh and Neeta Goyal who built Jet Airways that India should be extremely proud of. Fine Airline providing vital connectivity and class service. Sad that so many Airlines have bitten the dust in India. Why ?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019
Every time I say that I am willing to pay 100 percent back to the PSU Banks, media say I am spooked, terrified etc of extradition from the U.K. to India. I am willing to pay either way whether I am in London or in an Indian Jail. Why don’t Banks take the money I offered first ?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019
I invested hugely into Kingfisher which rapidly grew to become India’s largest and most awarded airline. True, Kingfisher borrowed from PSU Banks as well. I have offered to pay back 100 percent but am being criminally charged instead. Airline Karma ?
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) April 16, 2019
The 63-year-old alleges that the Indian government discriminates against private airlines. Proving his point, he stated that the government offered help to the state-owned Air India but failed to do the same for Kingfisher as well as Jet Airways.
Mallya has been absconding from India after an alleged money laundering of ₹9,000 crore. Currently, he remains on bail as he awaits an oral hearing to be listed by the UK High Court for his appeal against his extradition ordered by Westminster Magistrates' Court in London last December and then signed off by UK home secretary Sajid Javid in February.
On the other hand, a State Bank of India (SBI)-led consortium of 13 Indian banks have been relentlessly trying to enforce a worldwide freezing order upheld by the UK High Court in May last year.