Have become political football: Mallya

New Delhi Feb 23 (IANS) Fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya on Thursday said he has become a political football between two major political parties in India.

Mallya now in the UK faces money laundering and loan default charges in India.

Mallya told business news channel BTVi: It all started with the failure of Kingfisher Airlines a public company. The government-owned banks are trying to hold me personally responsible for the failure of India s largest airline and to repay their debts. I have a counter-claim on them as well.

According to Mallya the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had converted a civil case into a criminal one and then charges of defrauding banks and money laundering had been added.

I will and I am severely contesting all these legally. I firmly believe they have absolutely no case against me whatsoever Mallya said.

But India is India and I have become a political football between the two major Indian political parties which is very evident by the rhetoric in the election speeches... I will follow the due process of law.

--IANS
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