Fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, who once owned Indian Premier League cricket team Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has once again drawn public criticism after congratulating the team online for reaching the IPL 2025 final.

In a post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr Mallya praised RCB for their "authoritarian win" against Punjab Kings, calling it an "outstanding all round performance in a high pressure contest." The post was made following the team’s eight-wicket victory in Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Chandigarh on 29 May.

RCB will now face their first final since 2016, with the championship match scheduled for 3 June at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Mr Mallya’s public messages of support, however, have not been met with widespread appreciation. Thousands of users flooded the comment section with jokes, criticisms, and calls for the 68-year-old to return to India and cooperate with ongoing investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

One social media user remarked, “If RCB wins this year, will you come back too?” while another quipped, “Hope the team brings back the trophy before you bring back the money!”

This is not the first time Mr Mallya’s congratulatory messages have attracted backlash. Just days earlier, following RCB’s record-breaking chase against Lucknow Super Giants, a post from Mr Mallya celebrating the win received over 850,000 views—alongside a fresh round of sarcastic comments urging his return.

Background and Legal Context:

Vijay Mallya, once a prominent Indian tycoon, is wanted by Indian authorities in connection with an alleged financial fraud case involving loans worth approximately ₹9,000 crore (around $1 billion) from a consortium of state-owned banks.

He is the former Chairman of United Spirits, one of India's leading alcoholic beverage companies, and was the owner of the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The airline ceased operations in 2012, and investigations into its finances revealed substantial unpaid debts.

Mr Mallya left India in 2016 and has since been living in the United Kingdom. In 2019, a UK court ruled in favour of extraditing him to India, but his return has been delayed due to what British authorities described as confidential legal matters.

The Indian government has consistently sought his extradition, and Mr Mallya remains on the country’s list of high-profile economic fugitives.

Public Sentiment and Online Reaction:

Mr Mallya’s messages, though appearing to express innocent sports enthusiasm, have increasingly become lightning rods for public frustration.

In one widely circulated comment, a user wrote: “RCB made it to the finals — now when are you planning to return to face your own? Or is ‘Play Bold’ just a slogan for tweets, not courtrooms?” The phrase “Play Bold” is RCB’s official team motto.

Another joked, “Mallya sahab knows how to ditch Punjab,” referring both to RCB’s win over Punjab Kings and Mallya’s legal controversies involving Indian banks.

Though Mr Mallya remains active on social media, he has not responded to the latest wave of reactions.

Context: IPL and Public Image

RCB, one of the original franchises in the IPL, has never won the title despite consistent fan support and high-profile players over the years. Their 2025 campaign has reignited hopes among supporters, especially after a strong performance in the playoffs.

Cricket remains deeply embedded in India’s cultural and social fabric, and the IPL is among the country’s most followed sporting events. With RCB’s success, emotions have run high—not just on the field, but online as well.

Vijay Mallya’s past association with RCB has made him a recurring figure during the team’s high-stakes moments. However, his legal status and perceived evasion of justice have led to increasing public impatience with his continued visibility online.

Whether the team secures its first championship or not, the social media response to Mr Mallya’s involvement underscores the ongoing tensions between his personal legal situation and his former public roles.