Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who left India in 2016 after being accused of defaulting on bank loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore, has said he’s open to coming back if he’s guaranteed a fair trial.
Speaking on a podcast with Raj Shamani, Mallya was asked, “Would you be willing to return to the country if you are assured fair time?” Mallya replied, “If I am assured, absolutely I will. I will think about it seriously.”
Mallya then pointed to how Indian prison conditions have raised red flags in UK courts. “But you should also be aware that there are other people who the government of India is targeting for extradition from the UK back to India, in whose case they have got judgment from the High Court of Appeal that Indian detention conditions are violative of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).” He added, “I’m sorry, and therefore they can’t be sent back.”
Mallya raised concerns about people being kept in jail without proper trials. “The plea was basically the prolonged detention without trial, for which we all know there are numerous examples. They just lock you up and throw away the key. That’s not justice,” he said.
Says his stay in UK is legal
Mallya insisted that he hasn’t broken any laws in the United Kingdom (UK). He said his stay in England is “fully legitimate.”
When asked what a fair trial looks like and what kind of guarantees he would need, Mallya said: “That’s something for the lawyers to discuss. But if you would agree with me, the conduct and the track record of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in respect of other unfortunate people doesn’t inspire too much confidence, does it?”
Mallya also said that in India, honest business failures are often treated like crimes. “I also tell you about the fact that in India, sadly, a business failure is compared or is equivalent to a fraud.”
‘Where is the Chori?’ Mallya questions theft allegations
On being called a financial criminal, Mallya defended himself. “You may call me a fugitive for not going to India post March, but I didn’t run away. I flew on a prescheduled visit. Fair enough, I didn’t return for reasons that I consider are valid… so if you want to call me a fugitive, go ahead. But where is the ‘chor’ (thief) coming from? Where is the ‘chori’ (theft)?” He repeated, “From where is the ‘chor’ (thief) coming from? Where is ‘chori’ (theft)?”
Mallya has been involved in a long and ongoing legal battle with Indian banks and government agencies. This follows the 2012 collapse of his now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines.