In a podcast episode that's already setting the internet abuzz, controversial businessman Vijay Mallya made a rare appearance, speaking candidly for over four hours with entrepreneur and podcaster Raj Shamani. From legal woes to emotional confessions, the former Kingfisher Airlines boss didn’t hold back, especially when the topic shifted to his possible return to India.
When asked point-blank if he would ever return to India, Mallya’s response was calculated, yet revealing.
'If I’m assured of a fair trial and a dignified existence in India, I will think about it seriously,' he said, his tone firm but not defensive.
It's a statement that’s sure to ignite debates across legal and political circles, and perhaps stir the curiosity of the public, who’ve seen Mallya become a symbol of both luxury and alleged financial wrongdoing.
In a particularly striking moment of the interview, Mallya addressed his infamous reputation as a 'fugitive tycoon.'
Call me a fugitive - fair. But where’s the ‘chor’? Where’s the ‘chori’?' he questioned. It was part indignation, part philosophy, as he challenged the narrative that had followed him since his departure from India in 2016.
He added that he didn't 'run away' but left on a pre-scheduled flight and chose not to return due to reasons he considers valid. 'I didn’t sneak out. I flew out openly. I just didn’t come back,' he explained.
While the podcast gave audiences a rare emotional peek into Mallya’s thoughts, the hard legal facts remain.
Back in April, he lost an appeal against a London High Court bankruptcy order, linked to over ₹11,101 crore owed to Indian lenders, including the State Bank of India. In a legal twist that could support his defence, his counsel claims Indian banks have already recovered more than ₹14,000 crore — more than double the original due.
Earlier this year, Mallya even knocked on the doors of the Karnataka High Court, demanding transparency in the loan recovery process. The court has since issued notices to concerned banks and recovery officers.
On the podcast, Mallya also spotlighted a broader issue, India’s ongoing attempts to extradite individuals from the UK, and the complications involved.
Citing a European court judgment, he noted, 'There are others the Indian government is trying to extradite, but the high court ruled Indian detention conditions violate Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.' It's a serious allegation, and one that places India's justice system under global scrutiny.
While the Indian government has yet to respond to the podcast or Mallya’s claims officially, the conversation has already taken a life of its own online. Social media is buzzing, legal analysts are weighing in, and political observers are dissecting every line.
For now, Mallya remains in the UK, not behind bars, but still entangled in courtrooms. Whether his podcast appearance signals a genuine desire to return or a calculated PR move, only time will tell.
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Akanksha Sinha
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