Lalit Modi hosts birthday bash for 'king of good times' Vijay Mallya in London

The former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi hosted a glitzy pre-birthday celebration in London for fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya, drawing a clutch of high-profile names to his Belgrave Square residence.

The guest list included Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, actor Idris Elba and fashion designer Manoviraj Khosla. Photographs from the evening showed Mazumdar-Shaw posing with Khosla in one frame and chatting with Elba in another.

Photographer Jim Rydell shared a picture of Lalit Modi and Mallya on X, thanking Modi for hosting what he described as a "fabulous pre-70th birthday party" in honour of Mallya at his London home.

"Thank you to Lalit K Modi for hosting a fabulous pre-70th Birthday party in honour of Vijay Mallya last night at his beautiful London Home," Rydell wrote.

Lalit Modi replied, acknowledging those who attended and referring to Mallya as his friend. "Thank you all for coming and celebrating my friend Vijay Mallya's pre-birthday bash at my house," he said.

Rydell also posted the event invitation on Instagram. The card, sent by Lalit Modi and Rima Bouri, invited guests to "a glamorous evening" celebrating their "dear friend Vijay Mallya", calling him the "king of good times". The invite featured a cartoon-style illustration of the former airline tycoon.

The pictures soon went viral on social media with users trolling both Lalit Modi and Mallya for having gala time despite evading Indian authorities for years.

"Yeh dekho. Sahi he. Khao, piyo aur Yash karo. Is Umar mein bhi pre bday bash. King of good times & now bad times too," an X use wrote. "These people are rubbing salt on bum of @narendramodi Govt," wrote another.

One use asked if he should extend State Bank of India and Reserve Bank of India's wishes to Mallya. @TheOfficialSBI @RBI Shall I convey your wishes too ?" he asked.

"Awesome - Perfect Frame Pic for Chor Chor Mausere Bhai Meme," said another.

Vijay Mallya left India in March 2016 amid mounting legal trouble linked to the collapse of Kingfisher Airlines. He is wanted by Indian authorities on charges of fraud and money laundering in connection with bank loans worth over Rs 9,000 crore. Mallya has been living in the UK since then and continues to fight extradition to India.

Lalit Modi, who played a key role in launching the IPL, left India in 2010 after being removed as IPL chairman following allegations of financial irregularities, including bid rigging and money laundering.

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