Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya also expressed solidarity with Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
Highlights
- Vijay Mallya held the Centre responsible for the collapse of Jet Airways
- He said he feels sorry to see the airline on the brink of failure
- Vijay Mallya said he is ready to repay loans even from an Indian jail
Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya lashed out at the centre for allegedly "discriminating" between state-owned and private airlines, and extended his "sympathies" to Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal.
"Even though Jet was a major competitor to Kingfisher at the time I feel sorry to see such a large private airline on the brink of failure when Government used 35K crores of public funds to bail out Air India. Just being a PSU is no excuse for discrimination," Vijay Mallya tweeted.
Referring to his offer to repay 100 per cent of his loans, the fugitive businessman, in a subsequent tweet said, "I invested hugely into Kingfisher which rapidly grew to become India's largest and most awarded airline. True, Kingfisher borrowed from PSU Banks as well. I have offered to pay back 100 percent but am being criminally charged instead. Airline Karma?"
He also questioned the banks saying, "Every time I say that I am willing to pay 100 percent back to the PSU Banks, media say I am spooked, terrified etc of extradition from the U.K. to India. I am willing to pay either way whether I am in London or in an Indian Jail. Why don't Banks take the money I offered first?"
The businessman also expressed solidarity with Naresh Goyal. "Even though we were fierce competitors, my sympathies go out to Naresh and Neeta Goyal who built Jet Airways that India should be extremely proud of. Fine Airline providing vital connectivity and class service. Sad that so many Airlines have bitten the dust in India. Why?" he tweeted.
Last week, Vijay Mallya submitted a "renewal application" in the UK High Court, appealing against his extradition to India. He is accused of fraud and money laundering charges amounting to Rs. 9,000 crores in India.
The 63-year-old former Kingfisher Airlines boss failed in his first attempt at an application seeking "leave to appeal" in the court earlier this month and had five business days to renew that application to seek a brief oral hearing before a High Court judge.
Earlier, Vijay Mallya had targeted PM Modi's government for using the Kingfisher crisis "against" the UPA government.