Vijay Mallya on Possible Return to India: 'I Need To Be Assured a Fair Trial'

Once a famous tycoon Vijay Mallya, who is currently facing fraud and money laundering charges in India recently revealed that he might seriously consider coming back to country on one condition. Mallya recently had a one on one conversation with popular content creator Raj Shamani podcast in which he talked on many things one of which is his return to India. If Indian investigative agencies guaranteed him a fair trial then he will comeback to country. 

Mallya also addressed about the label that he has got in India, he said, "Call me a fugitive if you want, but I didn't run away. I had a prescheduled visit, and while I didn't return, I believe I had valid reasons. So, where does the accusation of being a thief come from? What theft are you referring to?" He questioned. 

About Mallya and his downfall

Once a owner of now defunct kingfisher airline and chairman of UB group, A company involved in drinks, airplanes, and banking. In 2012 failure of Kingfisher Airlines is when the actual problem began.  As per the reports he has been accused of defrauding Indian banks of over Rs 9,000 crore , primarily through loans to his failed Kingfisher Airlines. Mallya, who fled to the UK in March 2016 to avoid intensifying legal pressure, faces ED and CBI charges for allegedly diverting funds to overseas accounts and shell companies and for money laundering. While fighting extradition from London, he petitioned the Karnataka High Court in February for clarity on the banks' loan recovery process, arguing that despite nearly Rs 6,200 crore being repaid, the banks had already recovered Rs 14,000 crore, and requesting a detailed accounting.

Also Read: 'I Am Entitled to Relief’: Vijay Mallya Reacts to FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s Remarks About Rs 14,131 Crore Recovery

India requested Mallya's extradition in 2017. Although a UK court ruled in favor of extradition in December 2018, and the Home Secretary approved it in February 2019, Mallya's appeals have stalled the process due to undisclosed legal issues cited by British authorities. In April, Mallya lost an appeal against a London High Court bankruptcy order related to over Rs 11,101 crore owed to lenders, including the State Bank of India (SBI).