Case Study: From Tycoon to Fugitive – The Rise and Fall of Vijay Mallya

This research paper analyses Vijay Mallya's rise and collapse, concentrating on the financial, political, corporate, and ethical aspects of his commercial activities. Mallya's legacy has worsened as a result of poor financial decisions, political abuse, and unethical corporate activity. The report shows that Kingfisher Airlines' aggressive growth into the aviation sector, despite low profitability, was driven by ego rather than strategy, resulting in significant debt buildup and a ₹9,000 crore default. This study uses a qualitative examination of financial data, media stories, and legal evidence to show how Mallya received unsecured loans, misappropriated public funds, and eluded regulatory scrutiny with the assistance of political patronage. It also highlights the huge discrepancy between how banks handle ordinary borrowers and important persons, revealing structural biases in India's financial and legal institutions. The report finishes by underlining the importance of greater corporate governance, ethical accountability, and equitable financial policies to avoid such errors in the future. Keywords: Financial Management, Unethical, Kingfisher, Unsecured