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
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
