Mallya to fly to BIC to avoid angry employees

The worsening situation at Kingfisher Airlines could force its owner Vijay Mallya to fly to the upcoming Indian Grand Prix at Greater Noida in a helicopter, in order to avoid disgruntled employees.

The Bangalorean, who owns the Force India Formula 1 team as well, has been under intense media scrutiny in the recent past over unpaid wages to employees of his airline, with many such employees planning to hold protests near the Buddh International Circuit, where the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix will be held this weekend.

Kingfisher Airlines’ employees have been trying to arrange a direct meeting with Mallya to sort out their issues and claim payments that they haven’t received for four months now. However, they have not been allowed permission to meet the industrialist, who has been absent at meetings between the company’s management and its employees.

Many sections of the Indian media have called Mallya an ‘absconder’, who has disappeared out of sight due to the growing burden on his shoulders.

Mallya nevertheless retaliated to those claims in a tweet on social media site Twitter, saying: “I travel 24×7 where my multiple work responsibilities take me. Sections of media call me an absconder because I don’t talk to them.”

However, his plans to fly to the venue of the Indian Grand Prix could raise more questions about Mallya’s avoidance of the issue, which in turn could heighten protests from his company’s employees.