Vijay Mallya, a fugitive businessman wanted in India over a Rs 9,000 crore default by his defunct airline, has claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) confirmed the recovery of Rs 14,131.60 crore from his case. Mallya, currently living in London, made the remarks on X, questioning whether he should 'become a cockroach' due to the 'injustice' he faces.

Mallya cited an affidavit filed by the ED in the Bombay High Court, stating that the agency had recovered the amount in 2021 and transferred it to the banks. 'Forget what I say if you don’t trust me. Focus on what the Enforcement Directorate said,' he wrote. However, no official confirmation of this affidavit or the recovery has been provided by the ED or the court.

Mallya also challenged his designation as a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018. He argued that repayment of debts should not depend on his physical presence in India. 'Thank you all for your mixed replies to my tweets. Love and hate go hand in hand and I respectfully accept that whilst humbly accepting your opinions,' he said, adding that the government's actions had been 'grossly unjust' in his case.

In a previous post, Mallya claimed he was legally prohibited from leaving the UK, where he has been a permanent resident since 1992. 'For all who say I am a bhagoda refusing to come to India, please be aware that I have been a permanent resident of the United Kingdom since 1992 and am currently legally prohibited from leaving this country,' he stated. He attributed his current situation to the 'poster boy actions' of the Indian government.

Mallya shared a table he claimed showed the recovery made in his case, questioning why he continued to be described as a fraudster. 'Do I still deserve the way I am berated by the media and referred to as a fraudster at the very outset of a journalist’s script?' he asked. He also called for the media to 'start asking when I will get my refund.'

The Bombay High Court had previously criticized Mallya for avoiding court proceedings and gave him a final opportunity to clarify his intentions regarding returning to India. Mallya's petition challenges the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act and his designation as a fugitive economic offender. However, no official response from the authorities or the court has been provided to address Mallya's claims or the alleged recovery of funds.

What remains unknown is whether the ED's affidavit, which Mallya claims was filed in the Bombay High Court, is genuine or if the recovery of Rs 14,131.60 crore is accurate. Additionally, the legal status of Mallya's claims regarding his permanent residency in the UK and the reasons for his inability to return to India remain unverified. The government has not issued a statement confirming or refuting Mallya's allegations, leaving the situation in legal and public discourse unresolved.