Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly living in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife after obtaining a residency card. Indian authorities have requested his extradition due to a ₹13,500-crore bank loan fraud case linked to the Punjab National Bank. Choksi allegedly provided false documentation to secure his residency, while his nephew, Nirav Modi, is contesting extradition from London.
Recent reports indicate that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is residing in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife, Preeti Choksi. Allegedly, Choksi has acquired a “residency card” in Belgium. The Indian government has since requested Belgian authorities to process his extradition back to India, although there has been no immediate confirmation of this request from Indian officials.
Choksi is the owner of the Gitanjali Group and is in hiding due to his involvement in a ₹13,500-crore bank loan fraud case. He, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is implicated in defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) of over ₹14,000 crore. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charged them, among others, in 2018 for their alleged misconduct at PNB’s Brady House branch in Mumbai.
Originally believed to be residing in Antigua and Barbuda, Choksi’s current situation in Belgium has drawn scrutiny. It has been reported that he secured Belgian residency through misleading information and fabricated documents, including false declarations regarding his nationality as well as failure to declare his existing citizenship from India and Antigua.
Choksi reportedly cited medical treatment at a reputable cancer hospital as part of his residency application. His financial misdeeds with Nirav Modi involved the fraudulent use of letters of undertaking, leading to substantial losses for PNB. Meanwhile, Nirav Modi remains detained in a London prison, fighting against his own extradition to India after multiple bail denials.
In May 2021, Choksi initially vanished from Antigua but was later located and returned to the island.
Mehul Choksi’s situation in Belgium raises significant legal and financial concerns, particularly regarding his extradition to India. His alleged use of fraudulent documentation to obtain residency further complicates the matter. With serious accusations of bank fraud leading to substantial economic loss, authorities are actively seeking action against Choksi. As this situation develops, it will have important implications for international law and the pursuit of justice in financial crimes.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
