Vijay Mallya
Vijay Mallya | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 18, 1955 Bantwal, near Mangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, former politician |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Known for | Chairman of United Breweries Group, founder of Kingfisher Airlines, former member of Rajya Sabha |
Vijay Vittal Mallya (born 18 December 1955) is an Indian businessman and a former member of the Rajya Sabha. The Indian Government is actively seeking his extradition to face financial crime allegations in India. Although his final appeal against extradition was dismissed in 2020, as of 2025 the extradition order has not been enforced; a UK court observed that he continues to contest extradition on outstanding legal issues.
Mallya is the son of a businessman involved in the alcoholic beverage industry. He previously served as chairman of United Spirits, the largest spirits manufacturer in India, and currently leads United Breweries Group, a diversified conglomerate with operations spanning alcoholic beverages, aviation infrastructure, real estate, and fertilizer. For over two decades, he also chaired both Sanofi India (formerly Hoechst AG and Aventis) and Bayer CropScience India, among other enterprises. He founded and formerly owned the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines and was co-owner of the Force India Formula One team prior to its administration. Additionally, he owned the cricket franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Early and personal life
Vijay Mallya is the son of Vittal Mallya, hailing from Bantwal, near Mangalore, in Karnataka. Born into a Konkani-speaking household, Vittal Mallya was chairman of the United Breweries Group. Vijay completed his education at La Martiniere Calcutta and later graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (honours) from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata in 1976. During his studies, he gained practical experience through internships at the family business and subsequently at the American branch of Hoechst AG.
In 1986, Mallya married Samira Tyabjee, who worked as an Air India flight attendant; they have one son named Siddharth Mallya. The couple divorced soon after but reportedly maintain cordial relations. In June 1993, he married Rekha, a childhood acquaintance; together they have two daughters, Leanna and Tanya. Rekha had two children from previous marriages, including a daughter named Leila whom Mallya adopted. Media reports indicate he may be preparing for a third marriage to Pinky Lalwani, a former air hostess with Kingfisher Airlines.
Mallya is known for his lavish lifestyle and is also a devoted follower of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and the Art of Living Foundation. He holds strong religious devotion to Lord Venkateshwara of Tirupati and Kukke Subrahmanya. Notably, on his 57th birthday in 2012—during the financial crisis faced by Kingfisher Airlines—he donated gold bricks weighing 3 kg to Venkateswara Temple and contributed gold-plated doors valued at ₹8 million to Kukke Subrahmanya.
Business career
He formerly chaired United Spirits, India's leading spirits manufacturer, and continues as chairman of United Breweries Group, an Indian conglomerate with ventures in alcoholic beverages, aviation infrastructure, real estate, and fertilizer sectors. For over twenty years, he also led companies such as Sanofi India (previously known as Hoechst AG and Aventis) and Bayer CropScience India.
Taking over as chairman of United Breweries Group at age 28 in 1983 after his father’s tenure, Mallya expanded the group into a multinational conglomerate comprising more than 60 companies. Over a span of fifteen years until 1998–1999, the group's annual revenue grew by 64%, reaching US$11 billion. His strategic diversification included acquisitions like Berger Paints, Best and Crompton (1988), Mangalore Chemicals and Fertilisers (1990), as well as media properties including The Asian Age newspaper and Cine Blitz magazine (2001).
Kingfisher beer, produced by United Breweries, holds over half of India's beer market share and is distributed across 52 countries, making it one of India's most prominent international beer brands.
Under Mallya’s leadership, flagship company United Spirits Ltd achieved sales of 100 million cases, ranking it as the world's second-largest spirits company by volume. In 2012, he relinquished management control to global spirits leader Diageo, while retaining a minority shareholding. By February 2015, amid legal conflicts concerning a $75 million severance payout blocked by Indian courts, he stepped down as chairman.
Launched in 2005, Kingfisher Airlines was a significant venture but eventually became insolvent and ceased operations. By October 2013, it had failed to pay salaries for fifteen months, lost its operating license, and carried bank debts exceeding US$1 billion. By November 2015, total liabilities surpassed $1.35 billion including taxes and creditor claims. Indian authorities have labeled Mallya a "willful defaulter" connected to allegations involving money laundering and fund misappropriation.
In March 2016, several banks filed petitions with the Supreme Court of India seeking to restrict Mallya’s travel outside India due to outstanding loans; media sources reported he had already departed the country. Courts issued non-bailable arrest warrants in Hyderabad and Mumbai linked to money laundering investigations. It is alleged that approximately ₹4,000 crore was transferred to offshore tax havens.
By June 2016, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) provisionally attached assets worth ₹1,411 crore belonging to Mallya within India against unpaid loans amounting to ₹807 crore. A subsequent attachment order in September encompassed assets valued at ₹6,630 crore including a farmhouse and residential flats worth ₹565 crore. By December 2016, ED had seized assets totaling ₹9,661 crore—the largest attachment under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act—and sought international cooperation for seizing overseas assets.
In July 2020, Mallya reportedly proposed a settlement offer totaling ₹13,960 crore against an outstanding principal debt of ₹9,000 crore presented to Indian bankers involved in litigation; however, this proposal was declined.
Political career
Mallya began his political journey as a member of the Akhila Bharata Janata Dal before joining the Janata Party under Subramanian Swamy's leadership in 2003, where he held the position of National Working President until 2010. He secured election to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka twice as an independent candidate: initially in 2002 with backing from Janata Dal (Secular) and Indian National Congress, and subsequently in 2010 supported by Janata Dal (Secular) and the BJP.
On 2 May 2016, following a recommendation by an ethics committee for his expulsion, Mallya tendered his resignation from the Rajya Sabha. At that point, he had already left India and had his passport revoked. In his resignation letter, he alleged that Parliament was misinformed by the Ministry of Finance and voiced concerns about the impartiality of any forthcoming legal proceedings against him.
Controversies
Once celebrated as the "King of Good Times" due to his extravagant lifestyle, Mallya and his corporate ventures have been embroiled in financial controversies since 2012. He departed India on 2 March 2016, stating his relocation to Britain was to be nearer to his children. Seventeen Indian banks are actively seeking recovery of loans totaling approximately , which are alleged to have been diverted by Mallya to acquire stakes in nearly 40 companies worldwide. Investigations led by the Income Tax Department, Central Bureau of Investigation, and Enforcement Directorate are probing allegations including financial fraud and money laundering. According to the Attorney General, Mallya’s assets abroad surpass the amount of outstanding loans.
In March 2016, banks approached the Supreme Court to restrain Mallya from leaving India; however, he had already exited the country. The Enforcement Directorate initiated a money laundering case accusing him of transferring loan funds abroad linked to his airline. On 24 April 2016, the Ministry of External Affairs canceled his passport. Efforts are underway by the Enforcement Directorate to secure an Interpol red corner notice for his arrest.
A non-bailable warrant was issued against Mallya by a Hyderabad High Court in March 2016 after he failed to appear in court concerning a dishonoured cheque case involving with GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd. Subsequently, a Prevention of Money Laundering Act court declared him a "proclaimed offender" in June 2016 related to defaulting on loans.
Mallya co-owned the Formula One team Force India from 2007 until financial difficulties forced Sahara Force India into administration during the 2018 season. In August 2018, Racing Point F1 Team purchased the team's assets and continued operating under the Force India name for the remainder of that year.
Accusations
On 18 April 2017, Vijay Mallya was detained by UK Metropolitan Police’s extradition division at the request of Indian authorities on fraud charges and subsequently released on bail. The Supreme Court of India found him guilty of contempt on 9 May 2017 and summoned him for a hearing on 10 July; when he failed to appear, the court declared further proceedings contingent on his presence. Mallya dismissed these legal actions as a "witch hunt," asserting his innocence and expressing faith in the UK justice system. Although restricted from leaving Britain, he stated this was not burdensome as his family had relocated abroad.
On 3 October 2017, Mallya was arrested again in London over money laundering allegations but was granted bail. India filed an extradition appeal concerning bank fraud estimated at ₹90 billion, with a final hearing scheduled for 31 July at Westminster Magistrate's Court.
Since his arrest in April 2017, Mallya has contested extradition efforts. On 16 June 2018, a UK court ordered him to pay £200,000 (₹18.1 million) to Indian banks along with costs related to global freezing orders and proceedings before Karnataka's Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT). He owes debts to thirteen banks including SBI, Bank of Baroda, Corporation Bank, Federal Bank, IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Punjab National Bank, and JM Financial Asset Reconstruction Co. The consortium sought possession of Mallya's £20 million Cornwall Terrace property in London; however, he claimed ownership rests with his mother.
In 2018, UBS commenced eviction procedures against Mallya and his family from Cornwall Terrace; although a trial scheduled for May 2019 was paused after a settlement allowed him to remain provided mortgage payments were made by April 2020. Additionally, he was required to cover accrued interest (£820,333), legal fees (£1,047,081), and receivers' charges (£223,863). In December 2018, courts ruled in favor of extradition. While he was permitted to appeal at London's High Court in July 2019, this appeal was dismissed in April 2020.
Mallya lost his ultimate appeal against extradition in May 2020 after failing to overturn a London High Court decision concerning fraud and money laundering linked to Kingfisher Airlines' unpaid loans. Although extradition was anticipated within weeks, it was postponed due to an unspecified "confidential legal matter" communicated to India in October 2020.
On 11 July 2022, the Supreme Court sentenced Mallya to four months imprisonment and imposed a Rs 2,000 fine for contempt related to transferring US$40 million to his children contrary to court orders. He was instructed to deposit this sum plus eight percent interest within four weeks or face property attachment alongside an additional two-month jail term.
Leaked documents
Vijay Mallya's name appeared in the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers, which are confidential files that exposed details about offshore investment activities.
Public appearance in a podcast
In June 2025, Mallya participated in an uncommon public interview on Raj Shamani's podcast, engaging in a four-hour discussion. This event marked one of his first extensive public statements since his departure from India in 2016.
The interview reignited media attention and public discourse within India, drawing criticism for giving a platform to a controversial individual who remains a fugitive.
During the conversation, Mallya asserted that he had repaid ₹14,000 crore on loans amounting to ₹6,200 crore.
Awards
Throughout his career, Mallya has been honored with numerous accolades both domestically and internationally:
- Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Business Administration awarded by Southern California University for Professional Studies (1997).
- The distinguished French decoration Officier de la Légion d'Honneur, received before 2014.
- Recognized as a "Global Leader for Tomorrow" by the World Economic Forum prior to 2014.
- Awarded "Entrepreneur of the Year" at The Asian Awards in 2010.
In popular culture
- Subject of the Netflix original documentary series Bad Boy Billionaires: India (2020).