NEW DELHI: Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya and founder of Indian Premier League (IPL) Lalit Modi on Thursday exchanged pleasantries, with extending birthday wishes to the ex-owner of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.
In a social media post on X. Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, wrote, “Wishing you my friend #vijaymallya a very #happybirthday – life sure has its ups and downs, we have both seen it. This too shall pass. May the year ahead be your year. And you are surrounded by love and laughter. Big big hug.”
Mallya, who is currently fighting extradition from the UK to India, responded, saying, “Thank you my dearest friend… we both have been wronged in a country we tried to contribute to.”
Mallya, accused of fraud and money laundering, owes Indian banks approximately Rs 9,000 crore. He fled India in 2016 and has been residing in the UK since then, according to PTI.
However, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently informed Lok Sabha that the ED has so far recovered Rs 22,280 crore from various scams. This includes over Rs 14,000 crore returned to banks from the sale of Mallya’s assets.
Mallya has also responded to Sitharaman’s statement in Lok Sabha that the banks have recovered more than double the amount owed in the Kingfisher Airlines case. He contends he is due relief.
Similarly, Lalit Modi, who left India in 2010, has faced allegations of financial irregularities during his tenure as IPL chairman. In 2011, the ED issued show-cause notices to Modi and the BCCI under FEMA for allegedly transferring Rs 243.45 crore to Cricket South Africa without RBI approval ahead of the 2009 IPL, according to ANI.
