Lalit Modi apologizes to the Indian government after a viral video showed him joking about being a "fugitive" with Vijay Mallya. Read why he deleted it.
Brajesh Mishra
Former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi has executed a sharp U-turn, issuing a public apology to the Indian government on December 29, 2025. The contrition comes in the wake of severe backlash over a viral video posted earlier this week, where Modi—hosting a 70th birthday bash for Vijay Mallya at his London mansion—jokingly referred to himself and the liquor baron as "the two biggest fugitives of India." Facing public outrage and a stern statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Modi deleted the post and claimed his remarks were "misconstrued," stating he holds the government in "highest respect."
The controversy erupted mid-December at Modi's Belgrave Square residence in London. The party was a celebration for Mallya’s milestone 70th birthday. In a video originally captioned "Let's break the internet," Modi was seen laughing with Mallya, boasting about their status as India’s most wanted men. The visual of two financial offenders—Modi (left in 2010) and Mallya (left in 2016)—flaunting their freedom in the UK struck a nerve back home. The MEA responded indirectly but firmly, reiterating its commitment to extraditing fugitives, which likely triggered Modi’s realization that mocking the sovereign state could complicate his legal asylum in the UK.
While mainstream media frames this as a "failed joke," the deeper story is the "Extradition Anxiety." Lalit Modi is legally savvy. He knows that British courts, while protective of human rights, frown upon applicants who openly mock the judicial systems of friendly nations. Calling himself a "fugitive" on camera is effectively an admission of guilt—a gift to Indian prosecutors. The apology isn't for the Indian public; it is a desperate attempt to scrub the record for the UK Home Office.
Furthermore, this incident highlights the "PR Rehabilitation Failure." Modi has spent years trying to rebrand himself as a persecuted visionary. This video shattered that facade, revealing him instead as an arrogant exile enjoying the spoils of alleged financial crimes. He tried to be "cool" by leaning into the "bad boy" image, but instead, he alienated the very public sympathy he needs to stay relevant.
The apology effectively neutralizes Modi’s "victim" card. By admitting he was "misconstrued" and bowing to the government, he has weakened his own narrative of defiance. For the Indian government, the video—and its subsequent deletion—serves as fresh evidence of the impunity enjoyed by economic offenders abroad, likely strengthening the political resolve to fast-track extradition treaties.
If you have to apologize for calling yourself a "fugitive," is it because you didn't mean it, or because you realized the judge was watching?
Why did Lalit Modi apologize to the Indian government in December 2025? Lalit Modi issued an apology on December 29, 2025, after facing severe backlash for a viral video in which he jokingly referred to himself and Vijay Mallya as "the two biggest fugitives of India." The apology was likely a move to mitigate legal and diplomatic fallout, as the video was seen as mocking the Indian judicial system.
What did Lalit Modi say in the video with Vijay Mallya? In the now-deleted Instagram video, Lalit Modi was seen with Vijay Mallya at a party, saying, "We are the two fugitives, the biggest fugitives of India." He had captioned the post, "Let's break the internet... Happy birthday my friend Vijay Mallya."
Where is Lalit Modi currently living? Lalit Modi is currently living in London, United Kingdom. The controversial video was filmed at his residence in Belgrave Square, an affluent district in London, where he hosted the 70th birthday celebration for Vijay Mallya
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