United Breweries Holdings Ltd chairman Vijay Mallya, in his reply to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea to declare him fugitive under the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, claimed that the ED had blocked his efforts to settle loans with public sector banks. In his 156-point reply to the ED’s plea, Mallya has claimed he is cooperating with the authorities in the UK, has submitted himself to the jurisdiction and process of the UK courts, so it is false for the ED to contend that he “refuses to return India”.
Mallya has also mentioned how he has been a Non-Resident Indian for exchange control and income tax purposes since 1988 and has also expressed shock and surprise over the Passport Authority of India revoking his passport in April 2016 and the ED moving the court and issuing a non-bailable warrant against him. He further mentioned he had written to the chairperson of the State Bank of India in May 2016, referring to the first settlement offer and the second settlement offer, stating he “would like to continue settlement discussions with the consortium” and despite this, the SBI filed a criminal conspiracy against him. The ED will file a reply on Sept 28.