New Delhi: The Centre has confirmed the arrest of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi in Belgium, based on requests by several Indian agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
“A very big achievement. PM Modi had already said that the ones who have looted the money of the poor will have to return it. Action is being taken against a lot of people in the country,” Pankaj Chaudhary, Union minister of state for finance, has said.
Choksi, a fugitive since 2018, is wanted in connection with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case. Non-bailable warrants were issued against him by courts in Mumbai. He was detained on April 12 from a hospital in Belgium and is now being held at a detention centre, sources have revealed.
Choksi has apparently been staying in Belgium for the last six months, undergoing treatment for blood cancer. He was apparently planning to move to Switzerland from Belgium when he was arrested.
One of his lawyers has, however, said: “He is not a fugitive. He is accused in the case but not convicted yet. He is ready to join the investigation via video conferencing. He cannot travel to India because of his health issues.”
Indian authorities have countered this by saying that if Choksi is fit enough to fly from Antigua to Belgium for treatment, he can return to India as well, where all facilities exist. They submitted extradition requests in September 2024, after an Interpol Red Corner Notice against the 65-year-old diamantaire was withdrawn.
Choksi will now pursue all legal avenues open to him to resist deportation to India. In the past, he had accused Indian ‘agents’ of attempting to ‘kidnap’ him in Antigua.
Choksi is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank of over Rs 6,095 crore through a massive banking scam involving the fraudulent issuance of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs) and the manipulation of Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs). His nephew and co-accused Nirav Modi remains in a London jail, battling extradition attempts.
