Vijay Mallya: India’s Fallen Business King

Jun 06, 2025 Anjali Mishra

Born on December 18, 1955, in Kolkata, Vijay Mallya inherited the UB Group from his father Vittal Mallya. A bold entrepreneur from a young age

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At age 28, Mallya took over as Chairman of United Breweries Group. He transformed it into a global beverage giant

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Mallya launched Kingfisher beer and later Kingfisher Airlines in 2005, branding himself as India’s flamboyant tycoon

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Mallya was also a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha, adding political influence to his business empire

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Known for hosting lavish parties, owning yachts, luxury cars, and an F1 team, Mallya lived extravagantly

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Kingfisher Airlines faced heavy losses, piling up over ₹9,000 crore in debt. By 2012, it had shut down

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Mallya was accused of defaulting loans and money laundering. Indian banks and enforcement agencies began investigations

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In 2016, he fled to the UK amid mounting legal pressure. India requested his extradition to face charges

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