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Vijay Mallya, wanted in India for fraud, gave a four-hour podcast interview after nine years. He apologised for Kingfisher’s failure, denied theft, and claimed banks recovered more than double the loan amount.
Businessman Vijay Mallya, who is wanted in India for defaulting on loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore, broke his silence after nine years through an over four-hour podcast with YouTuber Raj Shamani. Speaking from his home in the UK, Mallya issued a rare apology for the failure of Kingfisher Airlines and defended himself against the label of “chor” (thief).
“Call me a fugitive, fair enough. But where is the ‘chor’ coming from? Where is the ‘chori’?” he asked, questioning why he’s still branded a criminal even after banks reportedly recovered more than double the money owed.
In the podcast, Vijay Mallya says, "I am probably the only chor who is called chor after repaying 2 and a hlaf times, but it's okay, it's part of life. The route cause or loss to public to the common man, Indian taxpayer, is the money which has been more than recovered."
“I apologise to Kingfisher employees,” says Mallya
In the podcast released Thursday, Mallya addressed the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines and took responsibility.
“I want to say sorry to employees of Kingfisher Airlines,” he said, adding, “This is my chance to set the record straight with facts and truth.”
Kingfisher Airlines shut operations in 2012, leaving thousands without salaries. Mallya said the Karnataka High Court is already looking into whether dues to employees were ignored by banks and questioned the system’s silence on that.
“I never fled India,” says Mallya
Mallya clarified that he did not escape from India.
“I flew out on a valid passport for a prescheduled trip. There was no legal order stopping me,” he said.
“If I am called a fugitive, okay. But I didn’t run. And if someone wants to try me for bad intentions, I will fight. Win or lose, I’ll fight.”
He said he has not returned because he doesn’t believe he will get a fair trial or dignified existence in India.
Legal history: Rs 6,200 crore loan, Rs 14,000 crore recovery?
Vijay Mallya is fighting extradition in the United Kingdom, despite a 2018 UK court order in favour of India. In April 2025, he lost an appeal against a London High Court bankruptcy order involving over ₹11,000 crore.
In February, Mallya approached the Karnataka High Court asking for a public statement from banks on how much money had been recovered. His legal team claimed:
- Original loan: ₹6,203 crore
- Recovered so far: Over ₹14,000 crore
Despite this, recovery actions are still ongoing.
“The Finance Ministry has confirmed in writing that banks recovered ₹14,000 crores from me,” Mallya said.
“Why is recovery still continuing if they’ve recovered more than twice the amount?” he asked in the podcast.
Mallya’s claim on Arun Jaitley sparks fresh row
Mallya revived an old controversy by again claiming that he had informed then-Finance Minister Arun Jaitley about his travel plans.
“I met him briefly in Parliament. He later denied it, but a Congress MP confirmed seeing us together that day,” Mallya said.
“Why would the Prime Minister talk about recovery from me if I weren’t politically important?” he asked, referencing a past speech by PM Modi.
Social media goes wild: Is this a rebranding?
The internet exploded after the podcast dropped. One viral post said:
“It’s only six months into 2025, and we’ve seen the India-Pak war, RCB winning IPL and now, Vijay Mallya’s podcast.”
Another called it a “soft rebranding campaign”, accusing Mallya of using influencers to change his image.
“Scamsters are now using influencers to rewrite their image — and India’s middle class is being emotionally hijacked,” wrote one user.
But many found the podcast bold and engaging:
“Credit where it’s due, getting Mallya on a podcast is INSANE. This is what podcasting should be.”
Industrialists and ex-IPL boss weigh in
Harsh Goenka posted:
“If his dues are cleared, why is Mallya still a political punching bag? Justice should be fair, not selective.”
Lalit Modi, former IPL chief, defended Mallya’s contribution to cricket:
“He was the first to support me in creating the IPL, its biggest sponsor, and most loyal fan. Give credit where it’s due.”
Mallya, former owner of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), became part of pop culture again as memes and debates flooded social media.
Vijay Mallya ready for trial?
Despite his defiant tone, Mallya says he is still open to returning, if there are guarantees of fairness.
"I am ready to face trial for intention so if they want to convict me for bad intention I will fight it. win or lose, I'll fight it," he says.
For now, he remains in the UK, fighting legal battles, defending his image online, and with this podcast reclaiming the mic, one headline at a time.
