VijayMallya, a businessman wanted in India for unpaid loans, recently appeared on a podcast—not to say sorry, not to surrender, but to defend himself.
He claimed:
“I didn’t run. I’m being wrongly blamed. The loans were backed.”
But let’s break this down simply. What he said may sound smooth, but legally, it’s full of problems:
⚖️ 1. He Can’t Use Indian Courts Anymore
India has a law for people who escape justice—The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
If you don’t come back, you lose your right to defend yourself in court. Mallya’s properties have already been taken.
So speaking on a podcast isn’t a legal step—it’s just a way to change public opinion.
🚨 2. He’s Walking on Thin Ice
Talking like this from another country, and pointing fingers at Indian agencies, might get him into more trouble.
It could be called Contempt of Court—a serious offense.
💻 3. The Podcast Host Isn’t Safe Either
Letting someone wanted by law speak freely—without fact-checking or balance—can cause legal problems for the show and the platform too.
New Indian tech rules (IT Rules 2021) keep an eye on this kind of thing.
📢 4. Words Can Become a Crime
If Mallya mentions people or makes claims without proof, he could be charged for defamation. That’s another legal headache.
So What’s Really Going On?
This isn’t about freedom of speech.
It’s about fixing a broken image.
And doing it through a mic doesn’t make it okay.
Final Question:
Should someone avoiding trial be allowed to tell their version to the world, while skipping justice?
Because this wasn’t just a podcast.
It was a direct challenge to Indian law—live and online.
Pic credits NYT
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