Vijay Mallya turned 70 on December 18 ,was seen smiling in a video shared by Lalit Modi. Modi said, “We are the two fugitives; the biggest fugitives of India.”
Internet has been flooded with a new video featuring none other than Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya. The birthday bash of Vijay Mallya held in London on the 18th of December was the occasion for the video to be shot. Lalit Modi, the mastermind behind Indian Premier League (IPL), is heard laughing and addressing Mallya as “the two most wanted criminals of India”. The Mallya, the erstwhile Kingfisher Airlines owner can be seen smiling while savouring his moment.
Lalit Modi shared the video on his official Instagram account and wrote: “Again, let’s cause a stir on the Indian internet! Happy birthday, my dear friend! .”
Vijay Mallya is a prominent entrepreneur who was once the owner of Kingfisher Airlines. After 2012, the airline was closed down and left with a lot of unpaid loans. In October 2025, Mallya was declared a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018. The legislation permits the government to adopt a harder line against those who have been convicted of financial crimes and subsequently fled India.
In the IANS article, Mallya is one of 15 declared FEOs who caused a huge loss in Indian banks. Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary informed the Lok Sabha that, in total, the 15 criminals incurred the loss of 26,645 crore for banks by the end of October 2025. In particular, Vijay Mallya owes the State Bank of India (SBI) the sum of Rs 6,848 crore as principal, and the bank owes it Rs 11,960 crore as interest. So far, the bank been able to collect the amount of Rs 10,814 crore from Vijay Mallya.
Lalit Modi, on the other hand, is currently facing accusations of tax evasion money laundering as well as other financial criminal acts. Modi was the founder of IPL in 2008, is now facing charges of tax evasion, money laundering and other financial IPL at the time of its inception, resigned from India in 2010 amid controversy concerning the cricket league’s financial affairs. As with Mallya Modi, Modi has denied any violations.
The video has sparked quite a buzz across social networks, and a lot of users commenting on Modi’s humorous comment that they are “the two most wanted criminals.” Although the video might appear casual and enjoyable however, it reminds viewers about the legal fights that these two famous figures have to fight in India.
This incident highlights the difficulties India confronts in reclaiming huge amounts of cash from fugitives as well as the significance of laws such as that of Fugitive Economic Offender Act. It is continuing to investigate these cases with a keen eye, hoping to return financial offenders into India as well as recover the public funds.
Despite all legal controversies in the legal arena, the two Modi and Mallya remain in an impressive public profile in the world. People on social networks have responded with mixed feelings. Some find the video funny and others are concerned about the authenticity of the video considering the serious financial scandals associated with it.
In the end Lalit Modi’s video from Vijay’s birthday celebration is a viral hit thanks to the bold and unique caption. While it shows a personal moment of joy, it draws attention back to the financial issues that surround each of the two men as well as the ongoing legal process in India.
