New Delhi: Liquor baron and former businessman Vijay Mallya on Friday said he is willing to return to India if he is given a clear assurance of a fair trial. Mallya made this statement during a podcast interview with content creator Raj Shamani, where he opened up about his legal troubles and reasons for staying in the UK.
Mallya fled India in 2016 after being accused of defaulting on bank loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore, mainly linked to his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. Since then, he has been living in Britain and has been fighting an extradition case filed by Indian authorities.
‘I will think seriously about returning’: Vijay Mallya
When asked whether he would return to India if assured of fairness, Mallya said, “If I am assured, absolutely I will. I will think about it seriously.”
He added, however, that other people being pursued by India from UK have received judgments from UK High Court of Appeal saying that Indian jail conditions violate the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In such cases, the UK has refused extradition.
“I’m sorry, and therefore they can’t be sent back,” he said, pointing to concerns about detention without timely trials. “They just lock you up and throw away the key. That’s not justice,” Mallya added.
‘My stay in UK Is legal’: Vijay Mallya
Mallya claimed his stay in the UK is “fully legitimate” and said he didn’t “run away” from India. “You may call me a fugitive for not going to India post March [2016], but I didn’t run away. I flew on a pre-scheduled visit,” he said.
“Fair enough, I didn’t return for reasons that I consider valid. So if you want to call me a fugitive, go ahead. But where is the ‘chor’? Where is the ‘chori’?” he asked, denying any theft.
When asked what kind of guarantees he would need to feel confident about returning, Mallya said that’s a matter for lawyers to discuss. However, he criticized the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), saying their treatment of others does not inspire confidence. “The conduct and the track record of the CBI and the ED in respect of other unfortunate people doesn’t inspire too much confidence, does it?” he said.
‘Business failure is not fraud’: Vijay Mallya
Mallya also said that in India, “a business failure is considered equal to fraud,” which he believes is unfair. He continues to deny wrongdoing, stating that he did not steal or commit fraud, but faced genuine financial challenges with Kingfisher Airlines.
Vijay Mallya is accused of not repaying loans from a group of Indian banks. In 2017, India formally requested his extradition from the UK. In 2018, a London court approved the request, and in 2019, the UK Home Secretary also signed off on the extradition. However, Mallya appealed the decision, and since then, the case has faced multiple delays and legal complexities.
Mallya’s latest comments suggest he may be open to returning, but only if he is guaranteed a fair trial. The Indian government has not yet responded to his remarks. Meanwhile, the extradition case remains stalled in the UK’s legal system.
This statement marks one of Mallya’s clearest indications so far that he might consider coming back — but only on his own terms.
