Willing to pay dues, but can't do anything in case of political interference: Vijay Mallya

A day after revealing his letter to Prime Minister and Finance Minister, embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya today again reiterated his stance that he is willing to settle dues with the banks, but "if politically-motivated factors interfere, there is nothing he can do." In a series of tweets today, Mallya said he has filed an application in Karnataka High Court on June 22 to sell his assets to repay creditors.

"Some people have been asking why I chose to make a statement at this time. I have made my statement because UBHL and myself have filed an application before the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court on June 22, 2018, setting out available assets of approximately Rs. 13,900 crore," he tweeted.



"We have requested the Courts permission to allow us to sell these assets under judicial supervision and repay creditors, including the Public Sector Banks such amounts as may be directed and determined by the Court," the second tweet read.


"If the criminal agencies such as ED or CBI object to the sale of assets, it will clearly demonstrate that there is an agenda against me "the Poster Boy" beyond recovery of dues. I continue to make every effort, in good faith to settle with the banks. If politically motivated factors interfere, there is nothing I can do," he added in a third tweet.


Earlier yesterday, Mallya said he was the victim of a politically-motivated witch hunt, had been made the scapegoat for corporate defaults and wrongfully accused of violations by the CBI and ED.

In his first public statement in almost two years, Mallya said he has become the ‘poster boy’ of bank default and a lightning rod of public anger.

Mallya said he hadn’t fled India and had been in talks with banks to repay a substantial proportion of the money that Kingfisher Airlines had defaulted on, pegging what was owed at much less than the Rs 9,000 crore the banks were demanding.

“I have made and continue to make every effort, in good faith, to settle with the public sector banks,” Mallya said in a five-page statement released via his Twitter account. “If politically motivated extraneous factors interfere, there is nothing that I can do.”

He also said that appeals to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley two years ago had evoked no response. Mallya said he was tired of the relentless pursuit by the government and its investigation agencies.

(Inputs from PTI & ANI)