Probe into KFA’s PF compliance, fresh NBWs against Mallya

In fresh trouble for liquor baron Vijay Mallya, retirement fund body EPFO on Tuesday formed an enforcement squad to investigate issues related to the payment of PF dues by long-grounded Kingfisher Airlines. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has also slapped a notice of Rs 7.62 lakh on the airline promoted by Mallya for short payment of PF dues.

Earlier this week, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya had said the ministry will soon launch an investigation to check whether there were any anomalies in the provident fund contributions made by Kingfisher Airlines for its employees when the carrier was functioning.

“A Squad of Enforcement Officer has been constituted for verifying compliance position in respect of all its employees as payment of contributions stopped after September 2015,” Labour Ministry said in statement on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, a local court has issued four more non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against Mallya after he failed to appear in a court here in connection with alleged dishonour of cheques amounting to Rs 2 crore to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has got probe reports from half-a-dozen banks, out of the total 17, in connection with its money laundering investigation in the IDBI bank loan default case against beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya and others.

Officials said on Tuesday the reports have been sent by at least six banks after agency investigators had sought their cooperation in sharing the details of loans extended by them to Mallya for business activities.

“The reports are being studied,” they said. CBI on Tuesday questioned the then Chief Financial Officers of defunct Kingfisher Airlines and UB Group, A Raghunathan and Ravi Nedungadi, respectively, in connection with alleged loan default case against the airline.