Source: REUTERS/RULA ROUHANA
[Saba Sports News] Vijay Mallya, the former boss of Force India,
India’s sole F1 team, has recently become a fugitive and is now India’s most
wanted. Mallya was once a prominent figure in the world of F1, known for
hosting lavish celebrity parties aboard his 311-foot superyacht, the
“Queen of India,” during the Monaco Grand Prix. He earned the moniker
“King of Good Times” from the media. Mallya had various identities,
including industrialist, congressman, and film producer. He amassed his wealth
through the sale of beer and was once the largest wine merchant in India and
the third largest globally. His United Breweries Group supplies 52% of all
alcoholic beverages in India. In 2008, Mallya, together with Dutch businessman
Michiel Mol, purchased the financially struggling Spyker F1 team for 88 million
euros and renamed it Force India. The team achieved fourth place in the annual
team standings in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons, surpassing renowned teams
such as Williams and McLaren. However, Mallya’s business ventures encountered
significant setbacks starting in 2016, leading to substantial debts and
multiple legal battles. In 2018, he sold various assets, including the Force
India team, to repay his debts. Mallya, who holds a British passport, fled to
the UK to evade legal repercussions.