On 31 January, a special CBI court issued a non-bailable warrant against Vijay Mallya in the loan default case against him. Two days after that, the CBI court gave a clean chit to former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother in the Aircel-Maxis case.
Special CBI judge OP Saini said no prima facie case warranting framing of charges against any of these accused was made out on the basis of materials placed on record.
They were chargesheeted by the CBI for alleged offences punishable under section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC and under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Mallya took the opportunity to take digs at the CBI on Twitter.
Mallya said the CBI does not understand business and economics. “Am shocked at CBI allegations. All false and misconceived to say the least. What do a bunch of elite Police know about business and Economics (sic)?” he wrote on Twitter.
He alleged that he is being used as a gimmick in a larger political game between the UPA and NDA coalitions.
The CBI in its chargesheet last week accused Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines of diverting Rs 263 crore from Rs 900 crore IDBI loan for “personal use”.
(With inputs from PTI.)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)