Bangalore: Coming to the defence of Vijay Mallya, former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Deve Gowda on Saturday, termed the former liquor baron as a son of Karnataka and said that he is not running away from the country.
Raising objection to Mallya being termed as an absconder, Gowda said, the Enforcement Directorate has issued summons to Mallya and he has already replied to those.
“These days every airlines facing the losses, so no need to target a person who is a global businessman,” the JD(S) leader opined.
The ED on Friday issued summons for appearance to the former liquor baron and questioned some former Kingfisher airlines executives while his "fleeing" from India triggered a spat in Parliament. However, the insisted that he had not fled the country.
Mallya, who is facing legal proceedings for alleged loan defaults by his group to the tune of over Rs 9,000 crore, said he will comply with the law of the land.
"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," Mallya, who is believed to be in the UK, tweeted from an undisclosed location.
