The Bombay High Court has thrown down the gauntlet to Vijay Mallya, the once-high-flying tycoon now synonymous with India’s most notorious financial scandals. On Thursday, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Chandreshwar pulled no punches, warning that deliberate avoidance of Indian courts bars any claim to judicial mercy.
At the heart of the matter is Mallya’s challenge to his fugitive status under the 2018 Fugitive Economic Offenders Act and the law’s very constitutionality. The court expressed its inclination to record that Mallya is indeed fleeing jurisdiction, making relief unlikely.
Yet, in a nod to natural justice, the judges offered a final lifeline: state your position on returning to India. ‘Return, or we won’t hear your petition,’ they declared, postponing the matter to next week.
This comes amid heightened government efforts to repatriate economic fugitives. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal affirmed New Delhi’s dedication to securing Mallya’s and Modi’s return via extradition battles in foreign courts.
Parliamentary disclosures paint a grim picture of the crisis. By October 31, 2025, 15 fugitives declared under the Act owe banks ₹31,437 crore including interest on ₹26,645 crore principal fraud. Notably, ₹19,187 crore has been clawed back.
Mallya, holed up in London, rejects all charges and has spotlighted discrepancies in official recovery statements, calling for an independent probe led by a retired judge.
As the clock ticks toward the next hearing, Mallya’s next move could redefine his legacy—from King of Good Times to a man cornered by justice. India’s banks and taxpayers await accountability.