Mehul Choksi seen in another country
Mehul Choksi, who is accused of committing a fraud of around $2 billion with Punjab National Bank (PNB) in India, has recently been discovered outside his safe haven. In such a situation, now efforts to bring him back to India have started gaining momentum again. In this case, Nirav Modi, a relative of Mehul Choksi, is also wanted in India and is currently in jail in London.
After his name surfaced in the fraud case, Mehul Choksi acquired citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. India has no extradition treaty with this country. Therefore, Mehul Choksi has been living safely here ever since and despite being declared a fugitive in India, his return to his home country has not been possible. On the contrary, Nirav Modi is facing legal action over the same matter in London.
Mehul Choksi spotted in Belgium
Mehul Choksi has recently been spotted in Belgium. In such a situation, Indian investigation agencies immediately got active and started making efforts to bring Mehul Choksi back to India from Belgium. Citing sources having information in this regard, ET said in one of its news reports that after Mehul Choksi was spotted in Belgium, CBI has sought his immediate custody.
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In this case, Indian agencies are preparing to send an official extradition request to Belgium so that Mehul Choksi can be brought to India. A senior government official says that if Mehul Choksi is not arrested immediately, he might flee Belgium.
CBI and ED have registered cases in India
CBI and ED have registered several cases in India in connection with the Rs 13,400 crore Punjab National Bank fraud. Both Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi are wanted in this connection. Nirav Modi is currently lodged in a British jail, where Indian agencies are trying to extradite him to India.
In May this year, Mehul Choksi filed a petition in a Mumbai court through his lawyer claiming that returning to India was beyond his control. The reason he gave was that his passport had been suspended. He had also said in his petition that he cannot be declared a “fugitive economic offender” because of this.
