New Delhi: After Vijay Mallya denied giving The Sunday Guardian an interview or ever saying that the "time was not right for his return to India", the newspaper has published what it claims is its mail trail with the liquor baron.
The newspaper said today that it stands by its interview. "This was given to the newspaper on 12 March 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 8 March," it said.
"For reasons that are not clear, Mr Mallya has sought to distance himself from the interview. We, however, stand by our report. The email trail is attached."
In tweets last evening, Mr Mallya said he had not given any statement to anyone.
Vijay Mallya@TheVijayMallya
Shocked to see Sunday Guardian's claim that I exchanged mails with them from my protonmail account. Have never heard of protonmail before.
Mr Mallya had been quoted by the newspaper on Saturday as saying that he did want to return to India, but the time was "not right".
"I do not think it is wise for me to reveal my whereabouts. I'm no hardened criminal who the authorities need to hunt. For now, I want to feel safe... I hope that I return one day. India has given me everything. It made me Vijay Mallya," Mr Mallya was quoted as saying.
Mr Mallya, 60, is facing demands to repay nearly a billion dollars loaned by banks to his grounded Kingfisher Airlines.
Seventeen banks had asked the Supreme Court to make sure that Mr Mallya stays in the country but a government lawyer told the court that he had already gone abroad on March 2. He is believed to be in the UK, where he has two homes.
The industrialist is also wanted in a money laundering case by the Enforcement Department, and has been ordered to appear for questioning in Mumbai on March 18.
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