Absconding tycoon Vijay Mallya's new claim has sent the Indian government and media into a frenzy has he said he had a “meeting” with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving India. In allegations that has created a political storm, Mallya told reporters outside the London's Westminster Magistrates' Court, “I left because I had a scheduled meeting in Geneva, I met the finance minister before I left, repeated my offer to settle with the banks... that's the truth.” He added that he had told the minister he was leaving for London.
However, minutes later, after his statement turned into a whirlwind of accusations and controversies, he backtracked, blaming the media for misrepresenting facts. He gave back-to-back statements and clarifications, ultimately confirming Jaitley's version of events. Following the breaking of the businessman's claims, Jaitley was quick to dismiss any official meeting, instead confirming an unofficial encounter at the Parliament. In a Facebook post, the Union Minister said Mallya's “statement is factually false in as much as it does not reflect truth.” He said, “Since 2014, I have never given him any appointment to meet me and the question of his having met me does not arise.”
Jaitley went on to describe when he did actually meet Mallya, adding that he “misused as privilege as a Rajya Sabha Member. According to him, Mallya told him, “I am making an offer of settlement.” “Having been fully briefed about his earlier 'bluff offers', without allowing him to proceed with the conversation, I curtly told him 'there was no point talking to me and he must make offers to his bankers'.”
Following the reveal of Jaitley's side of the story, Mallya turned over his previous statement, saying, “I happened to meet (Mr) Jaitley in Parliament and told him that I am leaving for London... I did not have any formal meetings scheduled with him.” He claimed that the facts were misrepresented by the media. “There was no scheduled meet. I said I happened to meet the finance minister.”
Meanwhile, the opposition keenly jumped at the opportunity to bash the Modi government. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, “Given Vijay Mallya's extremely serious allegations in London today, the PM should immediately order an independent probe into the matter. Arun Jaitley should step down as the Finance Minister while this probe is underway.”
