Vijay Mallya tells Bombay High Court he cannot return to India due to UK travel restrictions, affecting hearing of his petitions
Vijay Mallya, former owner of Kingfisher Airlines and United Breweries, left India in March 2016 after failing to repay loans worth thousands of crores. Indian authorities, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), filed multiple cases against him under laws related to money laundering and economic offences.
In January 2019, a Mumbai court declared him a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act, 2018. This law allows authorities to seize assets of offenders who avoid returning to India. Mallya has challenged this designation and certain parts of the FEO Act in the Bombay High Court.
Mallya Cannot Travel Abroad
On February 18, 2026, Mallya informed the Bombay High Court that he cannot provide a date for returning to India. His lawyers said UK court orders bar him from leaving England and Wales.
Mallya’s Indian passport was cancelled in 2016, so he cannot travel internationally even if allowed. His lawyer, Senior Advocate Amit Desai, said Mallya is not allowed to leave or hold any international travel document. He argued that the court should still hear his petitions despite his absence.
Court Demands Physical Presence
The bench, led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, stressed that fugitives cannot seek legal relief while absent from India.
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Earlier, the court had said it would not hear Mallya’s petitions unless he physically returned or committed to returning. The judges questioned why Mallya had not challenged UK orders or sought permission to travel and said simple claims without evidence were not enough.
Next Steps Ordered by Court
The Bombay High Court asked the Union of India (Centre) to reply to Mallya’s statement within a week. Mallya’s lawyers were directed to submit a detailed affidavit explaining UK travel restrictions and providing legal and factual evidence.
The next hearing is scheduled for March 11, 2026, when the court will decide whether it can hear Mallya’s petitions without him or insist he returns.
Legal and Policy Implications
Mallya’s case is happening on multiple levels. Extradition proceedings in the UK continue separately from his domestic petitions challenging the FEO Act. His claim that he cannot leave the UK is tied to these ongoing UK court orders.
The FEO Act is designed to stop offenders from escaping justice. The Bombay High Court’s insistence on his presence highlights that legal accountability cannot be avoided. This case may set an example for other fugitives like Nirav Modi, who are challenging Indian laws while abroad.
March Hearing Will Be Crucial
Mallya’s team must file the detailed affidavit requested by the court. The Centre will submit its response on time. The hearing on March 11 will determine if the court will proceed with his petitions without him or require his physical return to India.
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