Photographs from a high-profile social gathering in London have once again brought together two long-absent Indian figures, Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi, both of whom have been living overseas for years after leaving India amid separate investigations into alleged financial wrongdoing. The images show the two fugitives socialising together at an exclusive party, underscoring their continued presence in elite social circles despite their prolonged legal battles with Indian authorities.
The event in question was a lavish pre-birthday celebration hosted by former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi in honour of fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya. The glamorous party was held at Modi’s residence in London’s upscale Belgrave Square and was attended by several prominent personalities from business, entertainment, and fashion. The gathering was organised ahead of Mallya’s upcoming 70th birthday and was described by attendees as a high-profile and celebratory affair.
Among the notable guests were Biocon founder and chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Hollywood actor Idris Elba, and well-known fashion designer Manoviraj Khosla. Photographs circulating from the evening showed Mazumdar-Shaw posing alongside Khosla in one image, while another captured her in conversation with Elba, highlighting the star-studded nature of the event.
Photographer Jim Rydell shared images from the celebration on the social media platform X, including a photograph featuring both Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya together. In his post, Rydell thanked Lalit Modi for hosting what he called a “fabulous pre-70th birthday party” in honour of Mallya at his London home. His message praised the hospitality and grandeur of the occasion.
Lalit Modi responded publicly to the post, acknowledging the guests who attended and openly referring to Vijay Mallya as his friend. In his reply, Modi thanked everyone for coming and celebrating Mallya’s pre-birthday bash at his residence, reinforcing the close personal association between the two men.
In addition, Rydell shared the official invitation card for the event on Instagram. The invitation, sent jointly by Lalit Modi and Rima Bouri, invited guests to what it described as “a glamorous evening” celebrating their “dear friend Vijay Mallya.” The card referred to Mallya as the “king of good times” and featured a cartoon-style illustration of the former airline tycoon, adding a playful yet provocative tone to the celebration.
The images and details of the party quickly went viral across social media platforms, sparking widespread criticism and mockery. Many users trolled both Mallya and Modi for openly enjoying an extravagant lifestyle while continuing to evade Indian law enforcement agencies. Several posts expressed anger at what users perceived as a display of arrogance and indifference toward ongoing legal proceedings.
One user sarcastically commented in Hindi, mocking the celebratory mood and questioning how such grand parties were being held even at an advanced age, while another accused the duo of rubbing “salt on the wounds” of the Indian government. Some users directly tagged Indian institutions such as the State Bank of India and the Reserve Bank of India, sarcastically asking whether they should also extend birthday wishes to Mallya. Others joked that the photographs were perfectly suited for popular “chor-chor mausere bhai” memes, a phrase implying close ties between alleged wrongdoers.
Vijay Mallya fled India in March 2016 as legal troubles mounted following the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines. He is wanted by Indian investigative agencies on charges including fraud and money laundering related to unpaid bank loans exceeding Rs 9,000 crore. Since leaving India, Mallya has been residing in the United Kingdom and has been contesting extradition proceedings initiated by Indian authorities.
Lalit Modi, meanwhile, left India in 2010 after being removed from his position as IPL chairman. His exit followed allegations of serious financial irregularities, including bid manipulation and money laundering linked to the early years of the IPL. Since then, he too has remained abroad, facing continued scrutiny from Indian enforcement agencies.
The resurfacing of images showing Mallya and Modi together has once again reignited public debate and criticism, highlighting the contrast between their ongoing legal cases in India and their seemingly carefree lives overseas.
