White collar crime investigating agency Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) had summoned 22 current and former top executives of Vijay Mallya's UB Group as part of its probe into possible fund diversions and inter-group fund transfers. The agency questioned several of them, including Mallya, who was in Mumbai last week, before he hurriedly boarded a flight to London on March 2, multiple sources familiar with the matter said. The agency also summoned India's low-cost aviation pioneer and founder of Air Deccan Capt G R Gopinath. Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines had acquired Air Deccan in an overnight deal in 2007.
The top UB executives, many of whom retired or quit in recent past, were summoned to the agency's Mumbai office last week. One of the key finance executives of the defunct Kingfisher Airlines was offered the option of turning an approver, the sources added. Those summoned included former CFO Ravi Nedungadi, former United Spirits CFO P A Murali and Kingfisher Airlines finance director A Raghunathan, besides former board members and advisers of Mallya group companies, including Subhash Gupte and Sami Lala.
"It is true that many of us, including Mallya and Capt Gopinath, have already met with the government agencies. Full cooperation continues as and when they require," a top UB Group official said, confirming the development. Capt Gopinath could not be reached for comments despite calls and text messages. When contacted, Mallya's spokesperson said he had no comment to offer.
10/03/16 The Times Of India
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The top UB executives, many of whom retired or quit in recent past, were summoned to the agency's Mumbai office last week. One of the key finance executives of the defunct Kingfisher Airlines was offered the option of turning an approver, the sources added. Those summoned included former CFO Ravi Nedungadi, former United Spirits CFO P A Murali and Kingfisher Airlines finance director A Raghunathan, besides former board members and advisers of Mallya group companies, including Subhash Gupte and Sami Lala.
"It is true that many of us, including Mallya and Capt Gopinath, have already met with the government agencies. Full cooperation continues as and when they require," a top UB Group official said, confirming the development. Capt Gopinath could not be reached for comments despite calls and text messages. When contacted, Mallya's spokesperson said he had no comment to offer.
10/03/16 The Times Of India
