Vijay Mallya, former owner of Kingfisher Airlines and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), expressed gratitude to RPG Group chairperson Harsh Goenka for publicly questioning the selective treatment meted out to him. Goenka’s post on social media suggested that Mallya has been unfairly targeted despite banks reportedly recovering over ₹9,000 crore of his dues.
Claims of Excessive Recovery
Mallya reiterated that banks have recovered ₹14,100 crore from him, against a debt of ₹6,203 crore as determined by the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT). He cited a written confirmation from the Union Finance Ministry to support this claim. Mallya raised concerns over what he calls “blatant discrimination” compared to other defaulters who have been offered lenient settlements or loan waivers.
Harsh Goenka’s Statement
In his post referring to Mallya as the “king of good times,” Goenka noted that while Mallya did default, his large dues appear to have been repaid. He questioned why other major defaulters face less scrutiny and argued that justice should be fair, not selective. He urged banks to make the status of Mallya’s dues public and transparent.
Legal Action and Extradition Battle
In February 2025, Mallya moved the Karnataka High Court seeking clarity on the total recoveries made by banks. His legal representative, senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, stated that ₹14,000 crore had been recovered, significantly more than the original judgment debt. Mallya argued that unless the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and banks could justify the excess recovery, he should no longer be treated as an economic offender.
Social Media Trolls After RCB’s Win
After RCB won their first IPL title recently, Mallya congratulated the team on social media, reminiscing about founding the franchise and selecting players like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers. His post went viral with over 1.6 million views. However, many netizens mocked him, urging him to return to India and face the law.
Previous Statements and Political Targeting
Mallya had made similar claims in December 2024 and in earlier posts, alleging that he is being unfairly used as a “political punching bag.” He cited the Finance Minister’s Parliament statement that the banks, with ED’s help, had recovered over ₹14,131 crore.
