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'Met FM Arun Jaitley before leaving India': Vijay Mallya 'vindicates' Rahul Gandhi's claim

Rahul Gandhi had in August claimed that Mallya had met ruling BJP leaders before fleeing India in March 2016.

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Vindicating Congress president Rahul Gandhi's claim that Vijay Mallya met ruling BJP leaders before fleeing India, the fugitive businessman on Wednesday told a UK court that he had met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving India in March 2016. 

"I left because I had a scheduled meeting in Geneva. I met the Finance Minister before I left, repeated my offer to settle with the banks. That's the truth", Vijay Mallya said outside London's Westminster Magistrates' Court where hearing for his extradition case in underway. 

This comes less than three weeks after Rahul Gandhi claimed that Mallya had met ruling BJP leaders before fleeing India.

Interacting with Indian Journalists Association in London on August 25, Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for going easy on Mallya.

"Before Mallya left India, he met senior BJP leaders, that is documented. I won't name them," he said.

While the BJP dared him to name the leaders, Gandhi refused to elaborate any further.

Mallya left India on 2 March 2016. The government had told the Supreme Court a week later that the liquor baron left the country on March 2.  "I spoke to the CBI little while ago and it told me that on March 2 he (Mallya) left the country," the then Attorney General (AG) Mukul Rohatgi had told the bench comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and RF Nariman.

The Congress immediately hatched on to Mallya's claim to attack Jaitley and the BJP government. 

"After Mallya reveals his ‘consultation meetings’ before his smooth escape, with Fiscal Mismanagement Blog Minister Sh Jaitley - one thing is clear - BJP is running “tour travels & immigration” agency for “loot scoot & settle abroad” brigade," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a tweet. 

Jaitley denied Mallya's claim saying that his "statement is factually false in as much as it does not reflect truth."

"Since 2014, I have never given him any appointment to meet me and the question of his having met me does not arise," he said. 

"However, since he was a Member of Rajya Sabha and he occasionally attended the House, he misused that privilege on one occasion while I was walking out of the House to go to my room. He paced up to catch up with me and while walking uttered a sentence that ”I am making an offer of settlement"," Jaitley added. 

 

 

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, however, rebutted Jaitley and said, "Phrase used by Mallya today is that 'he met FM'. But'met the FM' doesn't suggest a passing, casual, walking meeting inside the House of Rajya Sabha. I think more categorical and detailed response must be had. Questions remain how could he have left after everyone knew of debts and NPAs."

"Congress has been repeatedly asserting for last over 18 months that not only Vijay Mallya but Nirav Modi, (Mehul) Choksi and many others have been allowed with impunity," Singhvi added. 

Mallya, who is facing money laundering charges in multi-crore fraud case in India, said on Wednesday that he had made a "comprehensive settlement" offer before the Karnataka High Court that will help in paying off all his dues.

The remarks by Mallya came as he arrived at the Westminster Magistrates' Court for a hearing in his extradition case, during which the judge is expected to review a video of the Mumbai jail cell prepared by the Indian authorities for the embattled liquor tycoon.

The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airline boss, who has been on bail on an extradition warrant since his arrest in April last year, responded to the swarm of reporters gathered outside the court in his characteristic manner, saying the "courts will decide".

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