Vijay Mallya hits back at ‘bhagoda’ tag, says ‘legally prohibited’ from leaving UK

Vijay Mallya has hit back at critics who call him a “bhagoda”, saying he has been a permanent resident of the United Kingdom since 1992 and is currently “legally prohibited” from leaving the country. 

In a post on X, the former Kingfisher Airlines owner accused the Indian government of treating him “grossly” unfairly. 

“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,” Mallya said. 

Mallya left India in 2016 as authorities pursued cases related to loans taken by Kingfisher Airlines. He was subsequently declared a Fugitive Economic Offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. 

In October 2025, the government told the Lok Sabha that 15 people had been declared Fugitive Economic Offenders. Mallya and diamantaire Nirav Modi were among those named. 

Mallya questions ‘fraudster’ tag 

Mallya has also questioned his continued description as a fraudster, citing the recovery of money from his assets. 

In another post on Tuesday, Mallya referred to an affidavit purportedly filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) before the Bombay High Court. He claimed the affidavit showed that ₹14,131.60 crore had been recovered from him in 2021. 

“Affidavit filed by the ED in the Hon’ble Bombay High Court. Para 7 is the decreed debt and Para 17 shows recovered ₹14,131.60 crore in 2021 !! 5 years on I am still referred to as a fraud who cheated the Banks,” he said. 

Mallya also shared a table that he described as a statement of account of the recovery. 

“To all who believe in fair and proper accounting justice please see the following table. Do I still deserve the way I am berated by the media and referred to as a fraudster at the very outset of a journalist’s script ? Why not start asking when I will get my refund,” he said. 

He further claimed that the ED had released more than ₹350 crore from his attached funds to pay Kingfisher employees. “I could not pay because ED attached my assets/funds,” Mallya said. 

Mallya had previously made a similar argument before the Bombay High Court. In February 2026, he told the court that he could not specify when he would return to India because English courts had barred him from leaving England and Wales or applying for or possessing an international travel document.