Frustrated over non-payment of salary for the last 10 months, Kingfisher Airlines employees on Wednesday asked the government to prosecute promoter Vijay Mallya and threatened to disrupt IPL matches of the Royal Challenger Bangalore, the team owned by him. “If Gopal Kanda, promoter of MDLR airlines, can be prosecuted for an employee’s suicide, why can’t the government prosecute Vijay Mallya for the suicide of a family member of an employee,” said Santosh Gautam, president,  Kingfisher Airlines maintenance association.

“Last time, when the Formula 1 race was being organised here, afraid of our protests, KFA man agement paid one month’s salary and assured us of payment of dues in instalments, but failed to keep their promise. This time, we will protest outside whichever venue RCB team plays their matches,” said SC Mishra, another employee.

The employees have urged RCB players to boycott Mallya’s team. They have also asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India not to allow RCB to take part in the upcoming IPL.

The employees asked the government to amend labour laws to make non-payment of salaries a criminal offence and said “the Supreme Court should take suo motu cognizance of our matter in specific and in general for overall reforms required for the benefit of working class.”  

The staff has written to the President, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, civil aviation minister Ajit Singh and DGCA Arun Mishra.