Choksi is currently in the Caribbean island nation and Indian authorities have asked Antiguan authorities to extradite him so that he could be prosecuted…reports Asian Lite News
In a major setback to Indian probe agencies, the Interpol removed fugitive Mehul Choksi, accused of committing a Rs 11,356.84 crore loan fraud case with the Punjab National Bank (PNB), fron its ‘red’ notice list.
Choksi was added to red notice list in December 2018. As per sources, authorities concerned of the Indian government objected to the move of Interpol but it didn’t budge on the decision
This is a setback to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) which were waiting for his deportation.
However, officials probing the matter said that it will not much affect Choksi’s extradition from Antigua.
Choksi is currently in the Caribbean island nation and Indian authorities have asked Antiguan authorities to extradite him so that he could be prosecuted.
In January, it was revealed that Choksi had been buying protection in Antigua by bribing a string of officials according to investigations conducted by Kenneth Rijock, a renowned financial crimes investigator.
Rijock made shocking revelations in a news article on Blogger against Mehul Choksi’s bribery and conspiracy in Antigua, where officials are interfering with Interpol’s efforts to detain him for extradition to India.
He said that Choksi has been scheming to illegally extend the court process in Antigua, by paying bribes to government officials, including senior Antigua police official, Adonis Henry.
Multiple witnesses report that Choksi and Inspector Henry have been meeting at least three times a day at Al Porto, a Jolly Harbor restaurant reportedly owned by Choksi, wrote Rijock in his financial crime blog.
In December last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered three more FIRs in Mumbai against Choksi for cheating and criminal breach of trust.
The FIRs were registered on the complaint of the Deputy General Manager of Punjab National Bank. The first FIR reads that complaint against Mehul Chinubhai Choksi, the Director/Promotor of the holding company viz. M/s Gitanjali Gems Ltd and also a guarantor for credit limits sanctioned to M/s Nakshatra Brands Limited, the Director of M/s Nakshatra Brands Limited viz. Dhanesh Vrajlal Sheth, unknown public servants, if any and others for having committed offence of cheating, criminal misappropriation of assets and criminal breach of trust thereby causing a loss of Rs. 807.72 Crore to the consortium members led by Punjab National Bank.
Punjab National Bank being the largest PSU Bank in terms of exposure in the consortium lodged the complaint on behalf of consortium member Banks as per the mandate given by member Banks. The ICICI Bank being the lead bank have filed a recovery suit against M/s Gitanjali Gems Ltd and its directors and guarantors before Hon’ble DRT-Mumbai, on behalf of the consortium members. Further, NCLT proceedings have also been initiated against M/s Gitanjali Gems Ltd, it reads. (ANI)