Went to Support Friend, Not Gatecrash: Mallya on Book Launch Row

London School of Economics, which organised the event, said he was not on the list of invitees.

• Vijay Mallya, declared an offender in a money laundering case, on Sunday said he was not a “gatecrasher”, suggesting that he was invited to Suhel Seth’s book launch in London which was also attended by the Indian High Commissioner Navtej Sarna.
  

• Sarna’s presence at the event on Thursday where Mallya was spotted, sparked a row. The MEA on Saturday issued a clarification that Mallya was not on the list of invitees of the event organised by the London School of Economics. Mallya, however, said that he went to support his friend, the author.
  

• The MEA had said the High Commissioner left the stage and venue immediately after making his comments when he spotted Mallya in the audience. LSE wrote to Sarna to clarify that Mallya was not on the invitee list. However, the event was widely advertised on social media and did not require registration in advance.
  

(With inputs from PTI.)