Vijay Mallya, the Indian fugitive businessman wanted on charges of fraud and money laundering, has recently claimed that he informed the then Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, about his impending departure to the UK before leaving India in March 2016. This revelation, made during a recent podcast interview, has reignited a political storm surrounding his exit and the circumstances that allowed it to happen.
Mallya, who owes an estimated ₹9,000 crore to 17 Indian banks, is accused of financial crimes related to the collapse of his Kingfisher Airlines. He has been residing in the United Kingdom since 2016 and is currently fighting extradition to India.
During the podcast interview with entrepreneur Raj Shamani, Mallya stated, "I told Finance Minister Arun Jaitley before leaving for the airport, and then I flew to London from Delhi." He clarified that this was not a formal meeting in Jaitley's office but rather an encounter as he was leaving Parliament. According to Mallya, he informed Jaitley that he was traveling to London en route to Geneva for a pre-scheduled meeting and would return, requesting Jaitley to facilitate a settlement with the banks.
Mallya's statement has triggered a fresh round of political accusations. Congress leader Pawan Khera criticized the Modi government, suggesting that the entire system had "surrendered," allowing Mallya to flee despite facing legal action. Khera shared Mallya's statement on social media, questioning how individuals like Mallya could leave the country despite being under investigation.
Following Mallya's initial claim, Arun Jaitley, who passed away in 2019, had denied holding a formal meeting with Mallya. Jaitley stated that Mallya, being a member of the Rajya Sabha, had "misused that privilege on one occasion" to approach him briefly while he was walking out of the House.
Mallya has also addressed the allegations against him, claiming that he has been unfairly labeled a "chor" (thief). He argues that he did not "run away" but rather "flew out of India on a prescheduled visit." While he acknowledges being a "fugitive" for not returning, he questions the accusations of theft, particularly since Indian banks have reportedly recovered a significant portion of the funds owed. In February 2025, Mallya's legal counsel argued before the Karnataka High Court that banks had already recovered ₹14,000 crore, exceeding the original ₹6,200 crore due.
Mallya has repeatedly stated his willingness to return to India if he is assured of a fair trial and a dignified existence. He has cited concerns about Indian detention conditions, referencing a UK High Court of Appeal ruling in another extradition case that found Indian detention conditions to be in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In addition to the controversy surrounding his departure, Mallya has also criticized India's business environment, describing it as heavily bureaucratic and politically influenced. He has apologized to former employees of Kingfisher Airlines for unpaid salaries, attributing the airline's downfall to the 2008 financial crisis and claiming that court restrictions prevented him from releasing funds.
Despite losing his final appeal against extradition in 2020, Mallya remains in the UK, resisting extradition on various legal grounds. The Indian government continues its efforts to bring him back to face trial for financial crimes related to the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines.
