Fugitive Vijay Mallya Tells Bombay High Court: Cannot Give a Date for Return to India

Businessman Vijay Mallya, who is facing charges of bank fraud, has informed the Bombay High Court that he cannot specify when he will return to India. On Wednesday, through his senior advocate Amit Desai, he told the court that UK courts have restrained him from leaving their jurisdiction, and therefore, he cannot provide a definite date for his return to India. Thus, Mallya expressed his inability to return to India.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, is hearing the case. This case pertains to two petitions filed by Vijay Mallya. One petition challenges his declaration as a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA), while the other challenges the court’s order formally declaring him a fugitive.

What the Bombay High Court said:
Previously, the Bombay High Court had clarified that it would not hear his petition challenging the validity of the Fugitive Economic Offender Act (FEO) until Mallya returned to India. Mallya was declared a fugitive offender by a special court in 2019. Mallya fled the country in 2016.

Mallya’s Lawyer’s Argument:
While hearing the arguments of Mallya’s lawyer Desai, the bench of Chief Justice Shri Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad remarked, “You are only citing the orders of the English courts as a barrier to returning to India, but you have not clarified whether you have challenged these orders. Are you using these orders as an excuse not to return to India?”

The bench did not seem satisfied with the lawyer’s response. Earlier, Advocate Desai, citing Supreme Court judgments, had stated that the Indian court could not insist on his client’s (Mallya’s) personal presence.

If Vijay Mallya comes to India:
Arrangements have been made for the hearing even in the petitioner’s absence. He said that if Mallya returns to India, he will no longer be a fugitive, and his petition will become meaningless. The bench has directed the central government to file an affidavit in response to Mallya’s arguments. The next hearing on the petition will be on March 11, 2026.

What is the Vijay Mallya Case:
According to the Finance Ministry, former Kingfisher Airlines promoter Vijay Mallya is among the 15 individuals declared fugitive economic offenders by October 31, 2025. He is accused of causing losses of thousands of crores of rupees to Indian banks.