Lalit Modi’s New Video With Vijay Mallya Draws Social Media Buzz

International

oi-Gaurav Sharma

A
fresh
clip
of
Lalit
Modi
and
Vijay
Mallya
partying
in
London
is
again
drawing
sharp
reactions
online,
as
both
figures
continue
to
face
extradition
efforts
from
Indian
agencies
while
appearing
relaxed
overseas
and
joking
about
their
status,
sparking
anger
among
many
social
media
users
in
India.

The
latest
video
follows
a
series
of
high-profile
celebrations,
including
a
recent
grand
birthday
event
for
Vijay
Mallya
in
London,
hosted
by
Lalit
Modi
and
attended
by
several
well-known
guests,
which
had
already
raised
questions
over
the
fugitives’
public
lifestyle
while
serious
criminal
cases
remain
pending.

Lalit
Modi
and
Vijay
Mallya
video
and
birthday
celebrations
draw
criticism

In
the
new
Instagram
video,
Lalit
Modi
is
seen
at
a
party
with
Vijay
Mallya
and
is
heard
introducing
both
as
the
“biggest
fugitives
of
India,” a
line
that
many
viewers
read
as
open
ridicule
of
Indian
authorities
and
a
pointed
comment
on
the
prolonged
delay
in
securing
their
return.

Lalit
Modi
posted
the
clip
with
the
caption:
“Let’s
break
the
internet
down
in
India
again.
Happy
birthday
my
friend
#VijayMallya.
Love
u”,
signalling
a
comfortable
friendship
with
Vijay
Mallya
and
a
willingness
to
provoke
reaction
in
India,
where
both
remain
wanted
in
separate
financial
crime
cases.

Lalit
Modi
and
Vijay
Mallya
video
sparks
reactions
and
ongoing
online
trend

The
Instagram
upload
quickly
gathered
comments,
with
one
user
stating,
“What
a
mockery
they
have
made
of
the
Indian
government.”
Many
pointed
out
that
such
videos
of
Lalit
Modi
and
Vijay
Mallya
enjoying
parties
abroad
now
appear
regularly,
forming
an
online
trend
that
angers
those
following
their
pending
legal
matters.

Earlier
in
December,
Lalit
Modi
hosted
a
large
birthday
gathering
for
Vijay
Mallya
at
a
London
residence,
later
described
on
X
as
an
“amazing
celebration,”
with
Lalit
Modi
calling
Vijay
Mallya
the
“King
of
Goodtimes,”
and
labelling
the
70th
birthday
milestone
a
“cornerstone
achieved”
while
wishing
continued
happiness
and
success.

Photographer
Jim
Rydell
shared
an
image
from
that
event
on
X
and
thanked
Lalit
Modi
for
a
“fabulous
pre-70th
birthday
party”
for
Vijay
Mallya.
Lalit
Modi
then
acknowledged
those
present
in
another
post,
referring
to
Vijay
Mallya
as
a
close
friend
and
expressing
gratitude
to
everyone
who
attended
the
London
celebration.

The
guest
list
for
the
birthday
event
reportedly
featured
Biocon
founder
Kiran
Mazumdar-Shaw,
actor
Idris
Elba
and
designer
Manoviraj
Khosla.
Shared
photos
showed
Kiran
Mazumdar-Shaw
with
Manoviraj
Khosla
and
speaking
with
Idris
Elba,
and
these
images
also
spread
widely
online,
drawing
sharp
criticism
over
the
glamour
around
the
fugitives.

Many
users
questioned
how
Lalit
Modi
and
Vijay
Mallya
could
hold
such
lavish
gatherings
while
continuing
to
avoid
Indian
courts.
Posts
noted
that
both
left
India
years
ago
but
remain
active
in
social
circles
abroad,
and
that
each
new
video
or
image
revives
debate
about
delayed
extradition
and
accountability.