Mehul Choksi, a fugitive businessman, is living in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife after obtaining a residency card. Indian authorities have requested his extradition concerning a Rs 13,500-crore fraud case. Reports allege he used false documentation to secure residency and may plan to move to Switzerland. His nephew, Nirav Modi, is contesting extradition in London.
Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly residing in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife, Preeti Choksi, after acquiring a residency card. This information emerged from a media report by Associated Times, focusing on the Caribbean region. Indian authorities have formally requested their Belgian counterparts to initiate Choksi’s extradition to India; however, there has been no immediate confirmation from Indian officials regarding this development.
Previously believed to be living in Antigua and Barbuda, Choksi is wanted in India for his alleged involvement in a substantial bank loan fraud case amounting to Rs 13,500 crore. Reports indicate that he may have provided false and misleading documentation to secure residency in Belgium, with claims of submitting forged documents and failing to disclose his Indian and Antiguan citizenship.
Sources suggest that Choksi is contemplating relocating to Switzerland under the pretense of seeking medical treatment at a renowned cancer hospital. Alongside his nephew, Nirav Modi, Choksi is accused of misappropriating Rs 13,500 crore from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) through fraudulent means. Presently, Modi is incarcerated in a London facility, contesting extradition to India after courts repeatedly denied him bail.
Choksi initially disappeared from Antigua in May 2021 but was located and returned to the island shortly thereafter. This ongoing saga continues to attract significant media attention and scrutiny in the context of international law enforcement efforts.
In summary, Mehul Choksi is confirmed to be living in Antwerp, Belgium, while facing extradition requests from Indian authorities related to a significant bank fraud case. His acquisition of residency in Belgium appears to involve questionable documentation, and he is reportedly considering a move to Switzerland for medical purposes. The case remains complex, with connections to his nephew Nirav Modi, who is currently contesting extradition in London.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
