Fugitive Mehul Choksi Reportedly Residing in Belgium, Extradition Requested by India
Mehul Choksi, a fugitive businessman, reportedly resides in Antwerp, Belgium with his wife, having obtained residency. Indian authorities have requested his extradition, as he is wanted for a ₹13,500-crore bank fraud involving Punjab National Bank. The report claims he may have used fraudulent documents to secure residency, while his nephew Nirav Modi contests extradition from London.
Recent reports indicate that the fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is residing in Antwerp, Belgium with his wife, Preeti Choksi, having acquired a residency card. Indian authorities have urged their Belgian counterparts to facilitate Choksi’s extradition, although an official confirmation from India remains pending. Choksi, the owner of Gitanjali Group, is wanted in connection with a ₹13,500-crore bank loan fraud that has implicated him and his nephew, Nirav Modi, in the Punjab National Bank scam.
Choksi and Modi are accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank of over ₹14,000 crore, involving a scheme that exploited the bank’s Brady House branch in Mumbai. In 2018, both businessmen, alongside their associates and several bank officials, faced charges from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Following the allegations, Choksi fled India in January 2018, eventually believed to have settled in Antigua and Barbuda before moving to Belgium, where he now resides with his wife, a Belgian citizen.
The media reports claim that Choksi obtained his residency under questionable circumstances, allegedly providing misleading documentation and failing to disclose his Indian and Antiguan citizenships. Furthermore, it was reported that he cited health reasons for residing in Belgium, specifically for treatment at a prominent cancer hospital. While Nirav Modi remains incarcerated in London as he contests his extradition to India, Choksi’s whereabouts continue to be the subject of scrutiny.
In May 2021, Choksi drew attention by going missing from Antigua, but he was later located and returned. As the situation unfolds, Indian authorities remain committed to pursuing Choksi’s extradition to address the significant financial crimes with which he is associated.
The case of Mehul Choksi underscores ongoing efforts by Indian authorities to bring fugitive businessmen accused of large-scale financial fraud to justice. His current residency in Belgium, associated with allegations of misrepresentation and fraud, continues to complicate matters. As both Choksi and Nirav Modi navigate legal challenges, the pursuit of accountability in the Punjab National Bank scam remains paramount.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
