Economic Times: Mumbai: Tuesday,
July 12, 2016.
State Bank of
India has expressed its inability to divulge details of loans given to Vijay
Mallya and his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines in response to an RTI query,
holding that the matter is sub-judice and being looked into by investigation
agencies.
Mumbai-based
RTI activist Anil Galgali had asked SBI about the total amount of loans given
to the beleaguered businessman and his airlines and also the minutes of the
meeting in which the loan proposals were sanctioned.
"You
have sought certain information pertaining to the loan facilities granted to
M/s Kingfisher Airlines Ltd and Vijay Mallya. Please note that the matter is
sub-judice and the matter is pending for the investigation before certain
investigation authorities. Hence deriving exemption from disclosure under
Section 8(1)(h) of RTI act, information sought by you cannot be provided,"
the bank's deputy general manager and public information officer (stressed
assets management branch, Bengaluru) said in reply.
Beleaguered
liquor baron Mallya and Kingfisher Airlines owe over Rs 9,000 crore, including
interest, to a consortium of 17 lenders led by SBI.
He has been
facing investigation from various agencies like Enforcement Directorate (ED)
and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), the investigative agency for
white collar crimes.
Last month, a
special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Mumbai had declared
Mallya a proclaimed offender in a loan default case.
On June 11,
ED had attached properties worth Rs 1,411 crore of Mallya and UB Ltd in
connection with its money laundering probe in the IDBI Bank loan default case.
Mallya flew
to Britain on March 2 using his diplomatic passport which was later revoked.
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