Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials confirmed this morning that Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamond trader wanted in connection with the punjab National bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has been taken into custody by Belgian police. The 65-year-old is presently incarcerated after apparently being apprehended on Saturday.
When Choksi was placed under custody, the police cited two open-ended arrest warrants that had been issued against him by a mumbai court, according to the Economic Times. They were dated june 15, 2021, and May 23, 2018. Citing his poor health and other excuses, he is anticipated to request bail and an early release.
The cbi and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are seeking Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, who is awaiting extradition from London, for allegedly cheating the bank out of Rs 13,850 crore in 2018.
They allegedly bribed executives at the bank's Brady house office in mumbai by using foreign letters of credit (FLCs) and letters of undertaking (LoUs). Weeks before the scandal involving the nation's second-biggest bank, PNB, came to light, they left india in january 2018.
Mehul Choksi's presence in the european nation was verified to NDTV by the Belgian foreign ministry last month. They "attached great importance and attention to it" and acknowledged his presence in a correspondence.
However, the ministry stated that it does not comment on specific situations. Yet, "the FPS Foreign Affairs continues to closely follow the developments in this important case".
Choksi reportedly obtained a "residency card" in Antwerp and has been residing there with his Belgian citizen wife, Preeti Choksi.
He was an Antiguan and Barbudan national who allegedly fled the island nation to receive cancer treatment with plans to relocate to Switzerland.
He was discovered in Dominica, another Caribbean island nation, after going missing in Antigua in 2021.
Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed lawmakers in december 2024 that properties valued at Rs 2,565.90 crore have been either sold or restored to cover the debts of wanted people like Choksi.
When Choksi was placed under custody, the police cited two open-ended arrest warrants that had been issued against him by a mumbai court, according to the Economic Times. They were dated june 15, 2021, and May 23, 2018. Citing his poor health and other excuses, he is anticipated to request bail and an early release.
The cbi and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are seeking Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, who is awaiting extradition from London, for allegedly cheating the bank out of Rs 13,850 crore in 2018.
They allegedly bribed executives at the bank's Brady house office in mumbai by using foreign letters of credit (FLCs) and letters of undertaking (LoUs). Weeks before the scandal involving the nation's second-biggest bank, PNB, came to light, they left india in january 2018.
Mehul Choksi's presence in the european nation was verified to NDTV by the Belgian foreign ministry last month. They "attached great importance and attention to it" and acknowledged his presence in a correspondence.
However, the ministry stated that it does not comment on specific situations. Yet, "the FPS Foreign Affairs continues to closely follow the developments in this important case".
Choksi reportedly obtained a "residency card" in Antwerp and has been residing there with his Belgian citizen wife, Preeti Choksi.
He was an Antiguan and Barbudan national who allegedly fled the island nation to receive cancer treatment with plans to relocate to Switzerland.
He was discovered in Dominica, another Caribbean island nation, after going missing in Antigua in 2021.
Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed lawmakers in december 2024 that properties valued at Rs 2,565.90 crore have been either sold or restored to cover the debts of wanted people like Choksi.
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