But his airline had severe cash problem and never made a profit before it folded after a strike by pilots over unpaid wages. Last week in court, India's Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, representing 17 banks owed money by Mallya, revealed that the 60-year-old businessman had left the country on March 2.
Mallya said last month that he planned to move to Britain to be closer to his children and he is understood to regularly stay at a £3m, 30-acre property guarded by CCTV cameras in the Hertfordshire village of Tewin.
The court heard the state was not looking to take action against Mallya but did want him to settle his debts.
However, the banks stand little chance of getting anything back from Kingfisher Airlines as there are few assets left - apart from its former headquarters in Mumbai.
So they are hoping that they might get something back from Mallya's personal wealth - if they can find him.
- Daily Mail
