Wonder If I Should Become A Cockroach: Vijay Mallya Questions Rs 14,131 Crore ED Recovery

Former Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya has again alleged “injustices” in the legal cases against him, questioning why he continues to be described as a fugitive despite the Enforcement Directorate recovering and restoring assets worth Rs 14,131.6 crore to banks.

In a series of posts on X, Mallya wrote, “With all the injustices I have faced and continue to face, I wonder if I should become a cockroach. Maybe a better life on the cockroach side.” His comments came amid his continuing legal battle involving Kingfisher Airlines, its bank creditors and Indian authorities.

Mallya also referred to an ED affidavit before the Bombay High Court, saying it confirmed that more than Rs 14,000 crore had been recovered and handed over to banks in 2021. “Forget what I say if you don’t trust me. Focus on what the Enforcement Directorate said,” he wrote.

The ED’s 2025 26 annual report provides more detail. It says Mallya was declared a fugitive economic offender on January 5, 2019, and assets worth Rs 14,131.6 crore were confiscated by the government. Following applications by the SBI led consortium, assets worth approximately Rs 14,131.6 crore were subsequently restored to SBI.

The figure represents the value of assets restored to the banks and does not mean Mallya personally paid Rs 14,131.6 crore in cash. The ED also said it facilitated the release of Rs 311.67 crore in 2025 26 towards long pending dues of Kingfisher Airlines employees, with the amount transferred to the Official Liquidator for distribution.

Mallya has also rejected the “bhagoda” tag, saying his continued stay in Britain is linked to legal restrictions. On September 9, he said he had been a permanent resident of the UK since 1992 and was “currently legally prohibited” from leaving the country.

His lawyers have previously told the Bombay High Court that UK court orders and the revocation of his passport prevent him from travelling to India. In February, the High Court had sought clarity on when Mallya intended to return while hearing his challenge to proceedings under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

Meanwhile, Mallya’s legal challenge remains tied to his declaration as a fugitive economic offender. In August, he sought closure of pending proceedings, arguing that bank recoveries had substantially exceeded the original principal claim. The Bombay High Court, however, sought the ED’s response before considering the matter further.