Vijay Mallya breaks silence on Kingfisher collapse, legal battle & return to India in explosive podcast

In a rare and emotionally charged four-hour podcast with Raj Shamani, fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya addressed some of the most pressing controversies surrounding his name, from the fall of Kingfisher Airlines to the mounting allegations of financial fraud, and even the possibility of returning to India.

Also Read:Vijay Mallya moves Karnataka High Court against debt recovery

The podcast, titled Vijay Mallya Podcast: Rise & Downfall Of Kingfisher Airlines, Loans & RCB" has gone viral, nearing 3 million views in under a day. Speaking candidly, Mallya rejected all accusations of fraud and money laundering related to Rs 9,000 crore, insisting that he never fled the country. “You can call me a fugitive, but I didn’t run. I had a scheduled departure. If I stayed away for valid reasons, why the label ‘chor’?” he said.",

He also issued a public apology to his former Kingfisher Airlines employees, acknowledging their hardships and expressing genuine remorse over the airline's collapse. On the matter of returning to India, Mallya stated he would consider it seriously, provided there were guarantees of a fair trial and humane conditions, a direct reference to UK court rulings that cited India's prison conditions as a human rights concern.

Mallya took a direct swipe at India's business ecosystem, calling the "ease of doing business" a hollow slogan. He revealed how navigating through political pressures from 29 state governments was a constant struggle during his time as a businessman.

In February 2025, Mallya filed a plea in the Karnataka High Court, claiming that banks had already recovered more than twice the debt Kingfisher Airlines owed. He demanded a financial audit and a stay on further actions. His legal team stated that against a Rs 6,200 crore debt, Rs 14,000 crore had already been recovered, raising questions about the enforcement agencies’ ongoing proceedings.

Online reactions poured in with users praising both Shamani’s interview skills and Mallya’s openness.

From admiration to nostalgia, the internet had a lot to say.