Vijay Mallya case: Allegations against senior officer 'baseless', says CBI

NEW DELHI: Hours after Congress president Rahul Gandhi + alleged that CBI Joint Director AK Sharma weakened the lookout circular (LOC) against former liquor baron Vijay Mallya and allowed him to flee the country, the agency called the allegations "baseless" and asserted that the decision was taken at appropriate level as part of the process and not by any individual.

In an official statement, CBI Spokesperson said, "Some baseless allegations have been made by certain individuals against a senior officer of CBI. As has been stated a number of times earlier, the decision to change the LOC against Vijay Mallya was taken because at the time there was not sufficient grounds for CBI to detain and arrest him."



The spokesperson added that "the decision was taken at the appropriate level as a part of process and not individually by the officer as alleged."

Reacting on Gandhi's allegations against AK Sharma on Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, CBI spokesperson added, "CBI received complaint against Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi from PNB almost a month after they had left the country. Therefore the question of any CBI officer having any hand in their fleeing the country does not arise. Prompt action was taken by CBI in the case immediately after the complaint was received from the bank."

AK Sharma is presently posted as Additional Director Policy and Anti Corruption Unit, handling most important cases. He is a Gujarat cadre IPS officer.

Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Saturday that "CBI Jt Director, A K Sharma, weakened Mallya's "Look Out" notice, allowing Mallya to escape. Mr Sharma, a Gujarat cadre officer, is the PM's blue-eyed-boy in the CBI. The same officer was in charge of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi's escape plans. Ooops...investigation", he wrote on Twitter.



Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi probes have been repeatedly raked up by the opposition to target the government in last one week.