Can't understand link between Christian Michel's extradition and my settlement offer, says Vijay Mallya

After offering the consortium of Indian banks to pay 100 per cent of the principal loan amount, fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya has urged not to link his extradition from Dubai with the settlement offered by him.

The 62-year business tycoon is undergoing an extradition trail in a UK court. (Image: AFP)

New Delhi: After offering the consortium of Indian banks to pay 100 per cent of the principal loan amount, fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya has urged not to link his extradition from Dubai with the settlement offered by him. “Respectfully to all commentators, I cannot understand how my extradition decision or the recent extradition from Dubai and my settlement offer are linked in any way. Wherever I am physically,my appeal is please take the money. I want to stop the narrative that I stole money,” Mallya said in a tweet on Thursday morning. The chief of the defunct Kingfisher airline in a series of Tweet offered to pay back 100 per cent of the public money to various Indian banks and even urged the government to accept his offer. Mallya’s proposal comes days ahead of UK court’s decision on his plea not to extradite him to India. The 62-year business tycoon is undergoing an extradition trail in a UK court over fraud and money laundering charges allegedly amounting to around Rs 9,000 crores.

Respectfully to all commentators, I cannot understand how my extradition decision or the recent extradition from Dubai and my settlement offer are linked in any way. Wherever I am physically,my appeal is “Please take the money”. I want to stop the narrative that I stole money

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) December 6, 2018

Mallya’s offer comes ahead of ruling in the case is expected at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on December 10. However, the fugitive businessman has stressed his offer has nothing to do with the extradition decision as it’s a separate issue which will take its own legal course. After maintaining a long silence on the issue, Mallya shot off series of tweets since the early hours on Wednesday to justify the loans he had taken from various public banks. “Politicians and Media are constantly talking loudly about my being a defaulter who has run away with PSU Bank money. All this is false. Why don’t I get fair treatment and the same loud noise about my comprehensive settlement offer before the Karnataka High Court. Sad,” he had tweeted.

Politicians and Media are constantly talking loudly about my being a defaulter who has run away with PSU Bank money. All this is false. Why don’t I get fair treatment and the same loud noise about my comprehensive settlement offer before the Karnataka High Court. Sad.

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) December 5, 2018

Further explaining the reason behind financial sufferings of Kingfisher Airlines, Mallya said, “Airlines struggling financially partly becoz of high ATF prices. Kingfisher was a fab airline that faced the highest ever crude prices of $ 140/barrel. Losses mounted and that’s where Banks money went. I have offered to repay 100 % of the Principal amount to them. Please take it.”

Airlines struggling financially partly becoz of high ATF prices. Kingfisher was a fab airline that faced the highest ever crude prices of $ 140/barrel. Losses mounted and that’s where Banks money went.I have offered to repay 100 % of the Principal amount to them. Please take it.

— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) December 5, 2018

The liquor baron also spoke about the media narrative and his intention to payback 100 per cent of the principal amount. “I see the quick media narrative about my extradition decision. That is separate and will take its own legal course. The most important point is public money and I am offering to pay 100% back. I humbly request the Banks and Government to take it. If payback refused, WHY?," he wrote. Mallya’s response came hours after Christian Michel, the prime accused in the alleged AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal, was brought to India from Dubai. This was one of the first successful extraditions since India initiated a similar proceeding against such fugitive businessmen including Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.