Vijya Mallya refutes giving interview to anyone; paper puts out mail trail

Mallya had apparently told the Sunday Guardain that it is not the right time to visit India.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya, mired in a controversy for leaving India in the middle of a massive loan default probe, appeared to distance himself from an interview that quoted him as having said that time was not "right" to return to the country. However, the newspaper Sunday Guardian newspaper has put up the email trail that culminated in his interview.

"Shocked to see media statements that I gave an interview to Sunday Guardian without verification. I have not given any statement to anyone," Mallya tweeted tonight on his official Twitter page. He did not elaborate further on the contents of the said interview.

Shocked to see Sunday Guardian's claim that I exchanged mails with them from my protonmail account. Have never heard of protonmail before. — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 14, 2016

Yesterday, the 'The Sunday Guardian' quoted him as having said in an e-mail interview, "I am an Indian to the core. Of course I want to return. But I am not sure I'll get a fair chance to present my side. I've already been branded as criminal. I do not feel the time is right."

Never ever had nor do I have a protonmail e-mail account. As I said earlier I have never ever heard of protonmail. — Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) March 14, 2016

Yesterday, Mallya had tweeted, "I am being hunted down by media in UK. Sadly they did not look in the obvious place. I will not speak to media so don't waste your efforts."

Under fire over dues totalling over Rs 9,000 crore of long-grounded Kingfisher Airlines in unpaid loans and interest, Mallya left the country on March 2, triggering a political row with Congress and BJP trading charges.

The Enforcement Directorate(ED) has summoned the liquor baron to appear before it in Mumbai on March 18 as part of its money laundering probe in the alleged default in payment of Rs 900 crore dues to IDBI bank by Kingfisher Airlines.

With PTI Inputs