'Did not flee India, I'm not an absconder': Vijay Mallya tweets; hits out at media

Two days after the Supreme Court issued a notice to business tycoon and wilful defaulter Vijay Mallya, he emerged on Twitter earlier this morning, denying that he was an absconder, in a series of tweets, and hitting out on the media for "libel, deceit, slander, and absolute sensational lies."

A consortium of banks led by Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi told the apex court on Wednesday that Mallya had left the country on March 2, even as the lenders were vying for a freeze on his severance pay from Diageo and his passport. It is now believed that Mallya has flown out to London with $40 million which was supposed to be paid to him immediately by Diageo.

Mallya, who owes 17 banks over Rs 9,000 crore has said that he did not flee the country and he is not an absconder. In his defense, he has said that he's an international businessman and travels to and from the country frequently.

I am an international businessman. I travel to and from India frequently. I did not flee from India and neither am I an absconder. Rubbish.

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 10, 2016

Mallya also said that as a Member of Parliament, he respected "the law of the land" and would comply with it completely; but he was against a trial by media. 

As an Indian MP I fully respect and will comply with the law of the land. Our judicial system is sound and respected. But no trial by media.

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 10, 2016

Hitting out at the media, in a direct attack on Times Now Editor Arnab Goswami, he called out for "libel, deceit, slander and sensational lies" for TRPs. Mallya also went on to say that media bosses shouldn't forget the favours that he'd provided them over the years.

The editor of Times Now needs to be in prison clothes and eat prison food for libel, deceit, slander and absolutely sensational lies.

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 10, 2016

Let media bosses not forget help, favours,accommodation that I have provided over several years which are documented. Now lies to gain TRP ?

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 10, 2016

News reports that I must declare my assets. Does that mean that Banks did not know my assets or look at my Parliamentary disclosures ?

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 11, 2016

Once a media witch hunt starts it escalates into a raging fire where truth and facts are burnt to ashes.

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 11, 2016