Vijay Mallya was seen at a book launch event in London.
Highlights
- Vijay Mallya was seen at a book launch event in London.
- The event was attended by Indian high commissioner Navtej Sarna.
- Author Suhel Seth said Indian envoy left the event after seeing Mr Mallya
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said business tycoon Vijay Mallya -- who has been declared a proclaimed offender in India over unpaid loans worth $1 billion -- was not invited to last week's book launch event in London partly organised by the Indian high commission.
"If Suhel Seth invites personally we are not aware of it," the minister said, adding, "The Indian High Commission did not invite him. The LSE (the organisers, London School of Economics) wrote to us saying they didn't invite."
High Commissioner Navtej Sarna, she said, left within "5 minutes of noticing Mallya at the event, and I don't know why it has been made into an issue then."
Ms Swaraj also said the High Commissioner could not be blamed for Mr Mallya's presence at the event. "Unka koi dosh nahi hai (there was no fault of the High Commissioner)," she told reporters.
A similar clarification was issued by the government yesterday, hours after it was reported that Mr Sarna and Mr Mallya were seen at the event -- the launch of a book by Suhel Seth -- on Thursday.
Mr Seth has said it was an "open event" and Mr Mallya came on his own.
But in a series of tweets, Mr Mallya today said he was not a "gate-crasher," suggesting that he had been invited to the event.
"I went for my friend - the author. Sat quietly with my daughter and listened. Headline news and unfounded speculation followed," he tweeted. "No evidence, No charge sheet. Before claiming all this should I not be given a chance to pursue my legal remedies? Most unfair."
The foreign ministry had said there were two separate segments, the book launch by UK Minister Jo Johnson and discussion at LSE and later, a reception at the High Commission for select guests. It added that he was neither invited by the Commission, and nor was his name on the guest list of the LSE.
Mr Mallya went to London on March 2 as banks attempted to recover around Rs. 9,000 crore loaned to his collapsed Kingfisher Airlines. New Delhi cancelled his passport in April.
Mr Mallya has denied all charges against him. Last week, he released a statement calling the investigation against him "heavily biased" for what he said was a genuine business failure and said that he was being held guilty without trial.