Salty Vijay Mallya hits out at media as bitter Indians call for his extradition

Former liquor baron Vijay Mallya has hit out at Indian news outlets for what he considers to be an "intense hate campaign," even as India tries to get him extradited from the United Kingdom following charges from banks that he defaulted loans, and being declared a "wilful defaulter" by the State Bank of India (SBI).

Mallya, while attending his extradition hearing at a UK court on Tuesday, June 13, had told reporters outside the court premises: "I have nothing to say. I deny all allegations [brought against me]. I have not eluded any court."

Mallya had recently been booed by Indian fans who had turned up to watch a match featuring the Indian cricket team in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. Mallya, accused of evading loans to the tune of more than Rs 6,000 crore, fled to the UK after six banks led by the SBI approached the Supreme Court against him. 

The former liquor baron has since then been summoned multiple times by the apex court, but has not put in a single appearance, possibly for fear that if he returns to India, his passport might be withheld or that he himself might be arrested. 

Mallya, it may be noted, was arrested by Scotland Yard in April this year, but was let go after just three hours. The arrest had been in connection to the extradition hearings, and even then Mallya had taken a dig at Indian news outlets for apparently celebrating the fact that he was in the police net. 

What he said in the early hours of Wednesday, June 14, was much on the same lines. He took to Twitter to write: "Intense hate campaign by Indian media against me knows no bounds. The GOI has filed a case which is before a U.K. court. Wait for verdict. [sic]"

Given that Mallya has already been held in contempt of court by the Supreme Court, it remains to be seen how soon India gets Mallya back home, and what fresh troubles await him here.