Row erupts over Indian envoy's presence at London book launch event also attended by Vijay Mallya

Image courtesy: Twitter @suhelseth

London: A row has erupted after reports emerged that the Indian envoy in London attended a book launch event where disgraced business tycoon Vijay Mallya was also present.

Mallya has been declared a proclaimed offender in India by a court in connection with a money laundering case. He is also wanted here over his failure to pay loans to the tune of thousands of crores.

The launch event for the book - Mantras for Success: India's Greatest CEOs Tell You How to Win - was held at the London School of Economics.

The book has been written by Indian author Suhel Seth, with journalist Sunny Sen as co-author.

The book launch was followed by a panel discussion where Indian High Commissioner to Britain Navtej Sarna was also present, as per reports.

Clarifying on the envoy's presence, Seth said it was an 'open event' which had been advertised on Twitter and 'no specific invitations were sent' for the same.

Seth added that after the Indian envoy learned about Mallya's presence at the event, he expressed displeasure and left.

About @TheVijayMallya at my book launch. It was an open @SAsiaLSE & advertised on Twitter. No specific invitations. Anyone could attend.

— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) June 18, 2016

And upon realising that @TheVijayMallya was in the audience as any other person, @NavtejSarna left before the Q&A expressing displeasure.

— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) June 18, 2016

Post the book launch there was a reception hosted by @HCI_London to which neither was @TheVijayMallya invited nor did he attend! Simple.

— SUHEL SETH (@suhelseth) June 18, 2016