A downgraded LOC against beleaguered liquor baron 3 years ago returns to haunt the govt
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s functioning has come under scanner after it came to light that the lookout circular (LOC) against liquor baron Vijay Mallya was deliberately diluted by the agency sleuths. The lookout notice against Mallya, calling for his detention on sight at airports, was diluted months before he left India for the UK. When CBI was probing Mallya's role in loan fraud, the agency issued lookout notice but it was deliberately diluted eventually leading to liquor baron fleeing the country. Sources said the Finance and Home ministries are trying to find whether there was an attempt to sabotage the Central government.
The agency maintained silence with its director Alok Kumar Verma's strict warning to their subordinates not to utter a single word over the major negligence on part of his men. However, CBI reportedly gave a defenseless argument to cover up their negligence that there was no reason to believe he could escape as he cooperated during questioning.
Further, the agency spread a word that the notice was issued on October 16, 2015, and it was diluted on November 23 into a notice for "report on arrival". The agency reportedly stated that they never believed that Mallya will flee the country. He frequently travelled between India and the UK even lookout notice was issued.
The agency claimed that the October 16 lookout circular had a "mistake". The notice was issued by the CBI's Mumbai unit and an officer there 'mistakenly' ticked the checkbox meant for detention while filling out the look-out notice. It claimed that mistake, apparently, came to light only on November 23. When Mallya reached the airport, the Bureau of Immigration, which is tasked with regulating the inflow and outflow of passengers at ports, called the CBI to ask whether the October 16 look-out notice should be executed. The CBI told the immigration bureau to dilute the notice.
On July 29, 2015, the agency had registered a case against Mallya based on information from sources as no bank had formally complained. When the lookout notice was issued in October, Mallya was in London. He returned the day the notice was downgraded and again left on December 1. He left again for London on December 1 and returned on December 7. Further, he left on December 23 and returned on February 2, 2016, and left six days later. He returned again the same month and then left on March 2 and thereafter never returned.
WHAT THE CBI DID & WHEN
- July 29, 2015: The Central Bureau of Investigation registers a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against Vijay Mallya.
- Oct 16, 2015: CBI asks immigration authorities to detain Mallya on his arrival from the UK.
- Nov 23, 2015: Immigration authorities inform the CBI that Mallya was arriving the next day.
- Nov 23, 2015: CBI, however, asks immigration authorities to downgrade LOC from ‘detain’ to ‘inform’.
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