Vijay Mallya addressed the Kingfisher Airlines crisis in a podcast, expressing regret for the unpaid salaries owed to thousands of employees. Although he acknowledged responsibility, he cited legal obstacles that prevented him from disbursing salaries.
Liquor baron Vijay Mallya has set the record straight on the rise and fall of the Kingfisher Airlines. In a recent podcast with Raj Shamani, Mallya was asked whether he had anything left to say to the thousands of unpaid employees that went through the Kingfisher Airlines crisis. It is believed that Kingfisher Airlines owes its former employees more than Rs 300 crore in dues.
When asked by Shamani, Mallya replied, “Apologetic? What do I apologise for? After putting Rs 3,000 crores of my own money into the business, I should apologise?”
He was then asked if he had an apology, not for anyone else, but only for the staff of Kingfisher Airlines. To this Vijay Mallya said, “I would say I am deeply sorry for what happened to them. I would say I am deeply sorry that some of them didn’t get paid their salaries. I have no excuses to offer.”
He explained further, “I take full responsibility, but for those who care to listen, there was money lying in the deposit with the Karnataka High Court. I specifically applied to court to pay their salaries, of Kingfisher Airlines staff. But the banks rejected it, and the courts rejected the permission. There was really nothing I could do beyond that.”
For those who are interested, I have spoken for the first time in nine years on this podcast.I want to say sorry to employees of Kingfisher Airlines and also to set the record straight with facts and the truth. https://t.co/aiAsnI68ie
— Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) June 5, 2025