Mallya's statement about meeting me is factually false: Arun Jaitley

Jaitley said: I have never given him any appointment to meet me and the question of his having met me does not arise

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday denied meeting liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya before he left India, minutes after the latter made a statement about such a meeting.

The 62-year-old former Kingfisher Airline boss, who arrived to appear before the Westminster Magistrates' Court in London, told reporters that he had met the minister and offered to settle the issue with the banks.

"I left India because I had a scheduled meeting in Geneva. Before leaving I met the finance minister and offered to settle (the issue with the banks)," Mallya said, without naming the minister.

"My attention has been drawn to