Vijay Mallya, in a podcast that is now going viral, claimed that he had informed the then finance minister Arun Jaitley before flying out of India in 2016. The revelation has reignited political debate around the his exit and the circumstances around it.
Speaking on the podcast, Mallya said, “I told Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving for the airport and then I flew to London from Delhi.” He further added that after the news became public, it caused a stir, with media and political circles questioning how he managed to leave the country amid mounting legal pressure.
“When this news hit the media, it created a storm. People went running to Mr Jaitley. He denied meeting me. A Congress MP saw us and then told the media, ‘No, I saw them together’. Jaitley had to retract his statement. He then said I met him, but only while walking — it was a fleeting meeting,” Mallya recalled.
Clarifying his version, Mallya said he never claimed to have had a formal meeting in Jaitley’s office. “All I said is that I told the Finance Minister while leaving that I’m going to London to go to Geneva for a meeting. I’ll be back. Please tell the banks to sit across the table and settle with me. How long does this take — this one sentence?” he said.
He also accused the media of exaggerating the situation, saying, “This is the problem with the media, particularly where I’m concerned. They conjure up stuff, blow things out of proportion. Okay, it’s good for their business, then let them continue doing it.”
‘Narendra’s entire system turned out ….’: Congress claps back
Sharing Mallya’s statement on X (formerly Twitter), Congress’ Pawan Khera took a jibe at PM Narendra Modi and the BJP-led government. “Foreign Minister attacks Pakistan by telling them. Bank fugitives flee the country after informing the Finance Minister. Narendra’s entire system turned out to be surrendered.”
The resurfacing of this controversy adds fresh political heat as Opposition is once again raising questions on how and why figures like Vijay Mallya managed to flee despite being under investigation.