Rahul Gandhi slams Arun Jaitley for colluding with Vijay Mallya, asks why FM allowed the 'criminal' to escape

In a veiled attack on Union Minister Arun Jaitley for allegedly meeting fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya before he fled to the UK, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the FM of colluding with a "criminal" and not informing the probe agencies, despite having information about the businessman's plan to leave India.

Addressing a press conference, Gandhi also trained his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking, "Why did Jaitley allow Mallya to escape, or was it an order from the prime minister?"

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"This is a clear-cut case of collusion. There is some deal between them. Finance Minister Jaitley must resign and this should be investigated," the Gandhi scion said.

LIVE: Press briefing by Congress President @RahulGandhi. #ArunJaitleyStepDown https://t.co/c9FoCdMfMb

— Congress (@INCIndia) September 13, 2018

Senior Congress leader PL Punia said on March 1, 2016, when he was in the Central Hall of Parliament, he had seen Jaitley and Mallya talking "discretely".

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"On March 3, we heard from the media that he (Mallya) fled the country on March 2. I have clearly stated this in each of my interview with the media. There are CCTV cameras, we can all see that for proof. If I am wrong, I will resign from politics," Punia was quoted by PTI.

He added that the meeting between Jaitley and Mallya lasted for 15-20 minutes.

Gandhi wondered that when the "absconder" had informed the finance minister about leaving the country, why did he not notify it to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or Enforcement Directorate (ED).

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The Congress president accused Jaitley and the government of lying on the issue.

(With inputs from PTI)