Economy

SBI was advised to move court to stop Mallya before he left country: report

Updated : September 14, 2018 08:59 AM IST

Dushyant Dave, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, told Express that he offered this advice after the bank informed him about having an inking that Mallya may leave the country.

The bank has also denied Dave's claims, according to the report.

The State Bank of India (SBI) did not take any action on the legal advice it received to go to the Supreme Court to seek an order restraining liquor baron Vijay Mallya's overseas travel, The Indian Express reported.

Dushyant Dave, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, told Express that he offered this advice after the bank informed him about having an inking that Mallya may leave the country.

"SBI chairperson and people at the top within the government knew about this meeting and the advice given by me. However, there was no action taken on it,” Dave was quoted by the paper.

“It was agreed that they would meet Monday morning to get an order from the Supreme Court restraining Mallya from leaving the country. It was a very specific advice and even as we agreed to meet next morning at 10 am (the court opens at 10:30 am), the SBI officials did not come,” he told the paper.

In reply, Arundhati Bhattacharya, the then SBI chairperson, told the paper: “Mr Dave may say what he has to say. I am no longer with SBI and you may contact the present SBI management for responses.”

The bank has also denied Dave's claims, according to the report.