The former Kingfisher Airlines chief says he continues to face “injustices”, while pointing to the Enforcement Directorate’s record of Rs 14,131.6 crore in assets restored to banks
Vijay Mallya has questioned the treatment of his long-running legal cases, saying he continues to face what he describes as “injustices” and asking whether he would be better off as a “cockroach”. In a series of posts on X, the former Kingfisher Airlines chief also pointed to the recovery of more than Rs 14,000 crore in assets and said he is legally prohibited from leaving the UK.
“With all the injustices I have faced and continue to face, I wonder if I should become a cockroach. Maybe a better life on the cockroach side,” Mallya wrote.
His comments came as he continued a series of posts about the legal proceedings involving the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines and a consortium of banks.
Mallya also referred to an Enforcement Directorate affidavit filed before the Bombay High Court. He said the affidavit showed that more than Rs 14,000 crore had been recovered and handed over to banks in 2021.
“And may I say again, affidavit filed in Court by the most feared criminal agency the Enforcement Directorate confirms that they handed over Rs 14,000 plus crores to the Banks in 2021. Forget what I say if you don’t trust me. Focus on what the Enforcement Directorate said,” he said.
More from BusinessWhat the ED says about the recovery
The Enforcement Directorate’s latest annual report records that Mallya was declared a fugitive economic offender on January 5, 2019, and that assets worth Rs 14,131.6 crore were confiscated to the government.
The report says assets valued at approximately Rs 14,131.6 crore were subsequently restored to the SBI-led consortium following applications by the banks.
The ED has also said it facilitated the release of Rs 311.67 crore towards long-pending dues of Kingfisher Airlines employees during 2025-26. The money was transferred to the Official Liquidator for distribution following directions from the Debt Recovery Tribunal.
Mallya has repeatedly cited the Rs 14,131.6-crore figure while questioning why he continues to be described as someone who cheated banks.
The figure refers to the value of assets restored to the SBI-led consortium, rather than to a statement that Mallya personally paid Rs 14,131.6 crore in cash. The ED’s description is that the assets were confiscated and subsequently restored to the banks.
Mallya says he is legally prohibited from leaving the UK
Mallya has also rejected criticism that he is refusing to return to India.
In a post on September 9, he said he had been a permanent resident of the UK since 1992 and was “currently legally prohibited” from leaving the country.
“For all who say I am a bhagoda refusing to come to India, please be aware that I have been a permanent resident of the United Kingdom since 1992 and am currently legally prohibited from leaving this country,” he said.
Mallya left India in 2016 as authorities pursued cases connected with loans taken by Kingfisher Airlines. He was subsequently declared a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018.
He has challenged his designation as a fugitive economic offender, as well as the constitutional validity of the law, before the Bombay High Court.
In February, proceedings before the Bombay High Court continued in his challenge. Court records show that the matter concerns Mallya’s challenge to his declaration as a fugitive economic offender and proceedings involving the Union government and the ED.
