Vijay Mallya is an Indian businessman and former Member of Parliament known for his ventures in the liquor and airline industries. He was the chairman of United Breweries Group (UB Group), a conglomerate involved in beverages, aviation, real estate, and more.
Mallya gained widespread recognition for launching Kingfisher Airlines in 2005, which aimed to offer luxury air travel in India. However, due to financial mismanagement and high operational costs, the airline shut down in 2012, leaving behind massive debts.
Mallya was later accused of defaulting on loans worth over ₹9,000 crores (approximately $1.2 billion) taken from Indian banks. In 2016, he left India and moved to the UK, leading to legal battles over his extradition. The Indian government has been pursuing his return to face charges of fraud and money laundering.
Despite his legal troubles, Mallya remains a controversial figure. Once called the "King of Good Times" for his lavish lifestyle, he is now seen as an example of corporate debt defaults and financial misconduct in India.