Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly residing in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife Preeti. India has requested his extradition due to his involvement in a ₹13,500-crore bank loan fraud case. Choksi is accused of providing false documentation to secure residency and is linked to fraudulent actions involving Punjab National Bank. His nephew, Nirav Modi, is contesting extradition from London.
Reports surfaced indicating that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is residing in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife, Preeti Choksi. Choksi allegedly secured a residency card in Belgium, prompting the Indian government to formally request his extradition from Belgian authorities. However, the Indian authorities have not yet confirmed these reports.
Mehul Choksi is the founder of Gitanjali Group and is implicated in a significant bank loan fraud, specifically a ₹13,500-crore case linked to Punjab National Bank (PNB). He, alongside his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused of defrauding the bank out of more than ₹14,000 crore, as detailed by Business Standard.
In 2018, both Choksi and Modi, along with various associates and bank officials, were charged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for their involvement in the fraud that occurred at the PNB’s Brady House branch in Mumbai. Choksi fled India in January 2018, initially believed to be living in Antigua and Barbuda before his move to Belgium.
Recent claims suggest that Choksi presented false information to Belgian authorities in order to obtain residency in the country. He reportedly submitted misleading documents and failed to disclose his Indian and Antiguan citizenship when applying for residency. The media has cited sources stating he sought this residency on the grounds of needing medical treatment at a renowned cancer hospital.
Furthermore, it is noted that Choksi and his nephew allegedly diverted ₹13,500 crore from public funds using fraudulent letters of undertaking issued by the PNB. Meanwhile, Nirav Modi remains incarcerated in London as he contests his extradition to India, having faced multiple denials of bail.
Choksi’s disappearance from Antigua in May 2021 generated significant media attention, although he was later traced and returned to the island.
In summary, Mehul Choksi resides in Belgium’s Antwerp, where he allegedly obtained residency through deceptive means amid serious allegations of fraud in India. With requests for his extradition already made by Indian authorities, the case continues to unfold against the backdrop of his previous escape to Antigua and ongoing legal issues faced by his nephew Nirav Modi. The situation highlights the complexities surrounding international law and the pursuit of fugitives.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
