Vijay Mallya Was Never Fraudster, Needed State Support: Raut

Shiv Sena politician Sanjay Raut has made a controversial assertion in his latest book, contending that Vijay Mallya, the fugitive liquor baron and former Kingfisher Airlines owner, was not guilty of fraud but rather needed state assistance during his financial troubles.

Raut's remarks come as Mallya faces multiple legal cases in India related to alleged loan defaults and has been residing outside the country. The businessman's Kingfisher Airlines collapsed in 2012, leaving unpaid dues to banks and employees. The entrepreneur departed India in 2016 amid mounting financial pressures and ongoing investigations.

The book release marks a notable shift in narrative surrounding Mallya's controversial business legacy. Raut's intervention suggests ongoing political debate about how India's regulatory and financial systems addressed the crises of major industrialists during economic downturns.

Mallya's case remains one of India's most high-profile insolvency matters, involving significant bank losses and raising questions about corporate governance and accountability in the aviation sector. The businessman has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that circumstances beyond his control led to his business collapse.