Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju said on Saturday he was surprised at how former liquor tycoon and Kingfishers Airlines promoter Vijay Mallya managed to renege on a string of professional commitments.
"I myself was surprised.
Kingfisher had not paid its labour, its leasees, the petroleum companies and airport authorities.
How he managed that, please ask him.
I told Parliament that I cannot put the clock back.
And it is the government of the day that should have taken action, " Raju said, adding that "law would take its own course" vis - a - vis the offences booked against Mallya.
He also said, that some of the cheques the now - absconding Mallya had issued to the Airports Authority of India had bounced.
"Law takes its own course, because some cheques he had given us bounced.
So that becomes a criminal offence.
The law is taking its own course, I can assure you that government of India is not going to protect anyone who is unlawlful, " he said.
A non - bailable warrant had also been issued against Mallya in connection with the dud cheques.