Lalit Modi apologises for ‘biggest fugitives’ remark

IPL founder Lalit Modi on Monday apologised for calling himself and Vijay Mallya the "two biggest fugitives" of India in a video posted on social media and said that his statement was "misconstrued". Issuing an apology, Lalit Modi said in an X post, "I apologise if I have hurt anyone feelings, especially the Indian Government, whom I have the highest respect and regard for."

I apologise if I have hurt anyone feelings especially the Indian Government who I have the highest respect and regard for. The statement was misconstrued and was never intended to be as played out. Once again my deepest apologies

— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) December 29, 2025

In the video from Mallya's 70th birthday celebrations in London, Lalit Modi joked about the pair's status as the "two biggest fugitives" of India. The post drew criticism online, with users accusing the duo of making a “mockery of the Indian government”. Modi has since deleted the video.

Both Modi and Mallya are currently living in the United Kingdom. Modi fled India in 2010 following allegations related to tax evasion, money laundering and proxy ownership connected to the IPL. The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that he manipulated the process of assigning IPL broadcast rights in 2009, reportedly in exchange for a kickback of over Rs 125 crore.

Vijay Mallya, the former chairman of United Breweries and promoter of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines, left India in 2016 amid allegations of defaulting on multiple loan repayments and owing Indian banks around Rs 9,000 crore. In 2019, Indian authorities declared him a “fugitive economic offender”, a designation that Mallya has challenged in the Bombay High Court.