'Powerful' people will be in trouble if Vijay Mallya opens his mouth: Congress

New Delhi: Amid the brewing storm over billionaire Vijay Mallya's absence from India as he faces charges of money laundering, the Congress on Sunday asserted that the liquor baron was 'made to abscond' since a lot of 'powerful' people would be in trouble if he opened his mouth.

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Manish Tewari said that it was not as if Mallya had escaped or absconded but he was 'allowed' to leave the country.

"The reason why Mallya was allowed to abscond is because if he is investigated or if he decides to open his mouth, a lot of very powerful people in this county will be without their clothes," he added.

Meanwhile, a Hyderabad court has issued non bailable warrants against Vijay Mallya and Chief Financial Officer of King Fisher Airlines A. Raghunath.

Mallya who is currently in the United Kingdom and is being sought out in India over charges of money laundering, claimed that the banks gave him loans after evaluating all aspects, adding that he is not trying to evade the law enforcement agencies but is on a personal visit.

In an e-mail interview with the Sunday Guardian, the business tycoon said he feels that he has already been branded a criminal in the country and, therefore, it was not the right time for him to return.

"There was a lookout notice issued against me last year. But I didn't 'escape'. Why am I being portrayed as a criminal now? Loan defaults are a business matter. When the banks give out loans, they know the risk involved. They decide we don't. Our own business was flourishing, but plummeted suddenly. Don't make me the villain. I have the best intentions. I'm quiet because I fear my words will be twisted like of others," he said.

Asserting that he was being victimised, Mallya alleged that there was a big agenda that some people were pushing against him.

In the interview, he also said that he wanted to return but feared that he might not get to fair chance to present his side as he was already branded as a criminal.

The government had earlier told the Supreme Court that Mallya had left India on March 2 following which the bench issued notice to him and sought his response within two weeks on pleas filed by a consortium of banks seeking direction for freezing his passport and his presence before the apex court.