Will start thinking ‘retirement’ after hitting 60: Vijay Mallya

USL Chairman Vijay Mallya on Tuesday said he will not retire from the company’s board anytime soon, but would start thinking about it when he turns 60.

“I am not retiring quite yet, but as I said once, sixty years old, you must start thinking, you know of enjoying life ... so what is wrong in me thinking (about it),” he told reporters, responding to a query on when he is going to retire from the USL Board after the much-hyped USL annual general meeting. “As I said, people are reminding me that I am turning 60. Normally, when you turn 60 you think of 

retirement,” he added. The liquor baron was born on December 18, 1955.

Mallya is in the news after the media was agog with reports that Diageo, the United Spirits’ new owner, had asked him to step down as Chairman and Director of the Indian liquor firm for alleged fund diversion to Kingfisher and other UB Group entities. To a question, Mallya said: “See, you try to interpret everything, twist and turn it... I will think when I hit 60. I will start thinking how to enjoy my life, what is wrong with that?” 

Asked whether he was in process of reducing stake in United Spirits Limited (USL), Mallya said he was focussing on settling the affairs relating to Kingfisher. 

“I am focussing on settling Kingfisher affairs with banks. That’s what my current focus is on,” he said.