Mallya

Mallya is an Indian surname common among Kannada-speaking communities in Karnataka and neighboring regions. It has been associated with several business families in South India and is most widely recognized internationally due to prominent public figures bearing the name.

Vijay Mallya (born 1955) is an Indian businessman and former chairman of United Breweries Group, a diversified conglomerate known for its beer brands and other beverages. He led the development of the Kingfisher brand, including the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. In the mid-2010s, the Kingfisher Group faced financial difficulties as large loans became disputed by Indian banks. Mallya left India in 2016 amid these investigations, and his case has since involved international legal proceedings.

In the United Kingdom, authorities have pursued extradition to India to face liability related to the loans and alleged misappropriations. Indian authorities designated him a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, a step aimed at enabling the recovery of assets for lenders. The case has been central to debates over corporate governance, debt resolution, and asset recovery in India.

Beyond Vijay Mallya, the surname is borne by other individuals in various fields, including business and public life, particularly among communities in Karnataka and the broader Indian diaspora. The name thus denotes both a regional Indian heritage and, in contemporary times, a presence in global financial and legal affairs through public figures associated with it.