Vijay Mallya Tells Court He Cannot Return to India

• Vijay Mallya said legal restrictions stop his return.
• Bombay High Court sought clarity on his intention.
• The case relates to fugitive economic offender status.

absconding businessman Vijay Mallya has informed the Bombay High Court that he is unable to return to India due to legal constraints imposed on him in the United Kingdom.

Through his counsel Amit Desai, Mallya submitted a formal statement explaining that he does not possess a valid Indian passport and is bound by court orders in England and Wales that restrict international travel. Because of these conditions, he said it is not possible to give a clear timeline for his return to India.

The submission came after the High Court questioned whether Mallya intended to appear in person while seeking relief against being declared a fugitive economic offender. Earlier, the court had made it clear that it could not hear his petition unless he returned to the country.

Mallya’s lawyer argued that his physical presence should not be mandatory for the hearing, citing the legal barriers abroad. Mallya has been living in the United Kingdom since 2016 and was declared a fugitive economic offender in 2019 in connection with loan default and money laundering cases.