- June 6, 2025
‘No Ease Of Doing Business In India’: Vijay Mallya Blames Bureaucratic, Political Hurdles
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Mallya called the Indian regulatory system “extreme” and accused authorities of being hostile to enterprise
Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya. (AP file photo)
Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya has slammed India’s business environment, claiming there is “no ease of doing business” in the country. Speaking on a podcast, Mallya blamed persistent bureaucratic red tape and political interference for creating a hostile atmosphere for entrepreneurs.
In an appearance on Raj Shamani’s podcast, Mallya, who is currently in the United Kingdom and wanted in India on fraud and money laundering charges worth Rs 9,000 crore, called the Indian regulatory system “extreme” and accused authorities of being hostile to enterprise.
“There is no ease of doing business in India… It’s in the Indian DNA. No matter what a state or federal government may say, there are bureaucratic and political hurdles all along the way,” Mallya said.
Mallya fled India in 2016 and has since been living in the UK, fighting extradition to face legal proceedings back home. His sudden appearance on the podcast has drawn attention not only because of the cases around him, but also because it marks his first media interaction in nearly a decade.
During the conversation, Mallya also spoke about his experiences in the alcohol industry, particularly with the Kingfisher brand, one of India’s top-selling beers. He said managing the business meant dealing with 29 different state governments, each with its own liquor laws. “I had to be in the good books of 29 chief ministers,” he said.
He further claimed that state elections brought added pressure on liquor businesses, as politicians often viewed the industry as a source of campaign funding.
Politicians saw the liquor industry as a cash cow for campaigns, the Kingfisher ex-boss added.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
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