Congress asks: Did Jaitley change lookout notice against ₹9000 crore fraudster Mallya?

Stepping up the attack on Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over the escape of financial fraudster Vijay Mallya, the Congress party addressed a second presser on Thursday demanding explanation from PM Modi, and asked who was the “political person who changed the lookout notice” issued against the fugitive liquor baron?

“On whose direction the lookout notice issued to Mallya was downgraded from the lookout notice to detain and arrest to the lookout notice to inform in November 2015?” asked head of the Congress media cell, Randeep Surjewala.

Presenting the time-line of the case before media, Surjewala said that CBI had lodged an FIR against Mallya in July 29, 2015 and three months later in October 16, 2015, a lookout notice was issued against him but one month later on November 23, 2015, the lookout notice was downgraded from lookout to detain and arrest to lookout to inform.

“Who ordered this change in the lookout notice and, in the FIR, registered by the CBI?”, enquired Surjewala.

Blaming Jaitley for helping Mallya escape, Surjewala said that not only was the lookout notice changed but also, there was a delay on part of the 17 public sector banks to seek legal remedy from the apex court.

“Public sector banks come under Finance Ministry and Finance Ministry was headed by Arun Jaitley at the time of Mallya’s escape. Was it not due to a conspiracy that the petition was filed after six days on March 6, 2016?” asked Surjewala.

It is important to note here that Mallya who has defrauded 17 public sectors bank with ₹9000 crores fled from the country on March 2, 2016.

Calling it “an ethical, moral and legal issue” Surjewala questioned Jaitley’s intention and timing of his meeting with Mallya.

“Why did Jaitley meet Mallya on March 1, 2016 despite knowing that the CBI has issued a lookout circular against him? Is it not enough to prove his collusion with Mallya?” asked Surjewala. He further added that Mallya had already told Jaitley about his leaving the country with 36 suitcases but despite this, the Finance Minister did not inform either CBI or ED or any other agency about it.

Why did the Modi Government permit Vijay Mallya to receive millions of dollars from the world’s largest spirit maker Diageo PLC after the CBI had registered a case against Mallya for defrauding public sector banks--Surjewala demanded to know.