Vijay Mallya denies Sunday Guardian report, paper stands by report

NEW DELHI: Controversy erupted over a Vijay Mallya ‘interview’ published by weekly newspaper The Sunday Guardian after the embattled businessman on Monday night denied having spoken to the publication.

“Shocked to see media statements that I gave an interview to Sunday Guardian without verification. I have not given any statement to anyone,” tweeted Mallya. However Sunday Guardian Editor Joyeeta Basu said the paper stood by its story.

“The Sunday Guardian stands by its interview of Mr Vijay Mallya. This was given to the newspaper on March 12, 2016. Mr Mallya personally responded to our email questionnaire from his encrypted email id: vjmallya@protonmail.com. This id was confirmed to us by his legal counsel’s office on March 8. To a questionnaire sent to Mr Mallya on March 10, he replied via email on March 12. For reasons that are not clear, Mr Mallya has sought to distance himself from the interview. We, however, stand by our report,” the Sunday Guardian said in a statement.

Kanishka Singh, the reporter on the story, also said an interview had indeed been carried out.

In the purported interview, Mallya responds when asked about his plans for returning to India, thus: “I am an Indian to the core. Of course I want to return. But I’m not sure I’ll get a fair chance to present my side. I’ve already been branded as criminal.

I do not feel the time is right. I feel passions are high. People need to think rationally. They need to understand that business, whether large or small, has risks involved.

I’ve seen the highest to the lowest points in this matter. But I hope that I return one day. India has given me everything. It made me Vijay Mallya.”