Did delay by SBI allow Vijay Mallya to leave India in 2016?
New Delhi : Two years before businessman Vijay Mallya left India to never return, the State Bank of India had declared that the liquor and airline tycoon owed it more than Rs 2,000 crore.
The declaration was part of a submission to the Debt Recovery Tribunal, which was then overseeing the matter of loan defaults made by Vijay Mallya and his companies. The submission was made by an SBI-led consortium of 14 banks and reflected dues as of January 31, 2014.
The numbers show that SBI was the largest lender to Mallya as of January 31, 2014. Mallya owed SBI Rs 2,043 crore. The total amount of money owed to the banks was Rs 6,963 crore.
Two years later, on February 28, 2016, top Supreme Court lawyer Dushyant Dave met with senior SBI officials. The meeting, Dave told India Today TV, took place at the behest of the bank's officials who asked for an "urgent meeting" to discuss the loans given to Vijay Mallya and his companies.
The meeting took place at Dave's home in New Delhi on February 28 -- a Sunday -- and lasted an hour, the lawyer said. During the meeting, Dave said, the SBI officials expressed fear that Mallya may try to flee India.
And so, Dave told India Today TV, the lawyer advised them to move Supreme Court and seek an order restraining the businessman from leaving India. The then SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya agreed with the recommendation, Dave said.
The lawyer, however, did not say whether Bhattacharya was present at the February 28 meeting.
Dave further said that he told the SBI officials to take urgent action in the case and move the Supreme Court the very next day, i.e. February 29, a Monday.
TIMELINE
► January 31, 2014: SBI declares Vijay Mallya owes it more than Rs 2,000 crore.
► February 28, 2016: Top SBI officials meet lawyer Dushyant Dave to discuss Mallya's loans.
► February 28, 2016: Dave advises SBI to immediately seek Supreme Court order barring Mallya from leaving India.
► February 29, 2016: Dave reaches Supreme Court. SBI officials fail to show up.
►March 2, 2016: Vijay Mallya leaves India to never return.
The next day, Dave said, he reached the Supreme Court but none of the SBI officials were there. And so, a plea seeking that Mallya be barred from leaving the country was never filed.
Two days later on March 2, Vijay Mallya left India. He has not returned since and is currently in London where he is fighting Indian attempts to extradite him.
"I have no doubt something happened after I gave my advice," Dave told India Today TV.
When asked to comment on Dave's statements, Arundhati Bhattacharya, who retired as SBI chief in October 2017, said, "SBI spokesperson will respond [on Dave's statements]. I can only reiterate that there was no laxity of any kind [emphasis original]. Please get a statement from current bank management."
India Today TV also sought an statement from SBI, which said, "State Bank of India (SBI) denies that there has been any laxity on its part or its officials in dealing with loan default cases including [Vijay Mallya's now-defunct] Kingfisher Airlines. Bank has been taking proactive and strong measures to recover the defaulted amounts."
courtesy : indiatoday.in
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Four cops suspended after man escapes from custody, gets hit by truck in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad (UP) (PTI): The Ghaziabad Police has suspended four personnel over presumed negligence and dereliction of duty after a detainee suffered severe injuries while allegedly fleeing from custody, a police official said on Friday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Modinagar) Bhaskar Verma said one Amit Kumar (35), an outsourced employee at Patla Nagar Panchayat, was allegedly drinking alcohol with three of his friends at a public place on Tuesday night. When Niwari police station arrived and reprimanded them, an altercation ensued, and Amit was subsequently detained.
While police were taking him for medical examination at Community Health Centre Muradnagar, Amit reportedly jumped from the moving police vehicle near the health centre to escape. As he ran towards the Delhi-Meerut highway, he was hit by an oncoming truck and sustained severe injuries. He was rushed to Yashoda Hospital in Nehru Nagar, where he is currently undergoing treatment in the ICU.
The police personnel allegedly failed to report the truck accident to their senior officers initially, claiming instead that Amit had fallen and injured himself while attempting to flee.
The incident sparked outrage among locals and the family of the detainee, who alleged that Amit was brutally thrashed while in custody.
On Thursday, protesters gathered outside the Niwari police station for nearly an hour, raising slogans against the police. The situation was eventually brought under control after officials assured that stringent action would be taken.
In response, a delegation of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leaders met Police Commissioner J Ravindra Goud to submit a formal complaint demanding accountability for the Niwari police station personnel.
On Thursday evening, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Rural) Surendra Nath Tiwari issued the suspension order against Patla police outpost in-charge Sub-Inspector Lokendra, Sub-Inspector Shaid Khan, Head Constable Sachin Mohan and Constable Narendra.
Additionally, the role of Niwari Station House Officer KK Maurya is under investigation, and a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the errant personnel, Verma said.
