Vijay Mallya, wanted in India on charges of fraud and money laundering involving over Rs 9,000 crore, spoke about the cases against him in a four-hour podcast conversation with entrepreneur Raj Shamani. The former Kingfisher Airlines chief addressed his controversial exit from India, legal battles, the downfall of his airline and his problem on being called a 'chor'.

“Call me a fugitive for not going to India post-March (2016). I didn’t run away, I flew out of India on a prescheduled visit. Fair enough, I did not return for reasons that I consider are valid, so if you want to call me a fugitive, go ahead, but where is the ‘chor’ coming from… where is the ‘chori’?” Mallya said on the podcast.

Mallya, who has lived in the UK since 2016, also commented on whether staying abroad worsened his legal troubles. “If I have assurance of a fair trial and a dignified existence in India, you may be right, but I don’t,” he said.

When asked directly if he would return to India under assurances of fairness, Mallya replied, “If I am assured, absolutely, I will think about it seriously.” He also cited a UK High Court of Appeal ruling in another extradition case, stating that Indian detention conditions had been found to violate Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. “Therefore they can’t be sent back,” Mallya said, implying that he had similar concerns.