Vijay Mallya wants govt’s help in footing his companies’ wage bill amid lockdown

Vijay Mallya said all his companies have ceased operations after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the lockdown, and he has been footing the "idle cost".

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: March 31, 2020 12:55 PM IST

2 min read

Mallya had asked the London court to not take up the matter because the matter is pending before the Supreme Court here.

Absconding businessman Vijay Mallya sought financial help from the government, claiming that he has been paying the salaries of his employees despite his companies ceasing operations following the 21-day lockdown to contain the novel coronavirus.

Mallya on Tuesday tweeted: “Indian Government has done what was unthinkable in locking down the entire country. We respect that. All my Companies have effectively ceased operations. All manufacturing is closed as well. Yet we are not sending employees home and paying the idle cost. Government has to help.”

The liquor baron, who has been accused of diversion of funds from Kingfisher Airlines in another post said: “I have made repeated offers to pay 100 per cent of the amount borrowed by KFA to the Banks. Neither are Banks willing to take money and neither is the ED willing to release their attachments which they did at the behest of the Banks. I wish the FM (Finance Minister) would listen in this time of crisis.”

Last month the Supreme Court adjourned the plea of liquor baron Vijay Mallya, seeking a stay on the proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to declare him a fugitive economic offender and confiscate his assets amounting to Rs 9,000 crores.

The matter, however, was scheduled to be heard in March after the Holi break of the court.

The 63-year-old beleaguered businessmen flew out from India in March 2016 and has been living in the United Kingdom since then. A court in the United Kingdom is currently hearing Mallya’s extradition proceedings.

With ANI inputs

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