The Vijay Mallya case rocked Rajya Sabha on Thursday with members cornering the government on how the liquor baron who allegedly owes Indian banks Rs.9,000 crore was allowed to leave India. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)  is looking into the Mallya case.

Congress leader Ghulam Azad asked: “Why was Mallya not arrested, why was his passport not seized?” as opposition MPs marched near the Speaker’s chair chanting, "Vapas lao, vapas lao" (Bring him back).

“Mallya is not a needle that he couldn’t be caught. He can be seen from a kilometer away,” Azad, the leader of the party in the Upper House, said.

Jaitley countered, saying the CBI is looking into the matter.

“The Opposition has raised pertinent questions. The CBI is investigating the matter,” said Jaitley, adding that the liquor baron had left the country before instructions were sent to seize his passports.

Jaitley said the government would get back every single rupee from Mallya. "Several of his assets have been attached and banks are doing what they can to recover money from Vijay Mallya. He had left India before the banks could move the courts," he said. 

“Mallya was given banking facilities in 2004, when his account was not even in order," he said. “We cannot forget that he was given loans under the UPA government,” Jaitley added. 

Taking a pot shot at the Congress party, Jaitley said: “When Lalit Modi left the country, the Congress was in power, and complaints were filed against him with FEMA ( Foreign Exchange Management Act)."

Azad then replied: “We never recommended anyone for a bank loan”.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also took on the government, saying that the banks did not file the case against Mallya till March 5, three days after he left the country.

“Why were the banks asked to delay approaching the courts? Why was Vijay Mallya allowed to leave India? This is the real issue that the leader of the House has evaded,” he said to Jaitley.

“The question is not about who gave loans to Mallya, the question is why was he allowed to leave India,” Ramesh asked.

The court issued notice to Mallya on Wednesday on a petition by 17 banks to stop him from leaving India over the massive debt owed to them by his grounded Kingfisher airlines. The government told the court that he had already left last week.

The amount owed by his company is around Rs.9,000 crores.

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