Catching thieves won't harm the country: Rahul Bajaj on Mallya

Bajaj also said that bank officials, who give loan on the basis of the just brand of a company, were 'either corrupt or highly inefficient'

"Catching thieves will not harm the country," noted industrialist Rahul Bajaj said on Thursday while batting for action against wilful defaulters amid a raging controversy over liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who owes over Rs 9,000 crore (Rs 90 billion) to banks, leaving the country.

"Wherever there are justifiable reasons (for non-payment of loans), actions should not be taken. However, where there are cases of wilful default, where loans were diverted for other purposes, action should be taken. Catching thieves will not harm the country," he said.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave here, Bajaj also said that bank officials, who give loan on the basis of the just brand of a company, were "either corrupt or highly inefficient".

Bharatiya Janata Party chief Amit Shah said a probe is being conducted into how Mallya escaped from the country. "He should not have gone. If he was right, he should have stayed here. Our courts are very liberal," he said.

Photograph, courtesy: Business Standard