PNB scam main accused Mehul Choksi in Belgium

Accused Mehul Choksi

New Delhi – Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi, wanted for a Rs13,500 crore bank fraud, is confirmed to be living in Belgium. The country’s foreign ministry acknowledged his presence but refrained from commenting on the extradition request from India.

1.Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is living in Belgium, the European nation has confirmed to a news channel. Choksi is one of India’s most wanted in connection with Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud

2.The Belgian foreign ministry confirmed to reporters that they are aware of his presence and “attaches great importance and attention to it”. The country, however, said it doesn’t comment on individual cases.

3.Earlier, Indian authorities requested the  Belgian authorities  to initiate his extradition to India, Associated Times, a media outlet that focuses on the Caribbean region, reported. There was no immediate confirmation of the report by Indian authorities.

4.Mehul Choksi , 65, is a fugitive Indian businessman and the owner of Gitanjali Group, a retail jewellery firm in India. He is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,500 crore bank loan fraud case.

5.Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused in the  Punjab National Bank(PNB)  scam where it is alleged that the Choksi-Modi duo defrauded the bank of more than Rs 14,000 crore, Business Standard reported.

6.Choksi was previously believed to have lived in Antigua and Barbuda before travelling to Belgium. His wife Preeti is known to be a Belgian citizen. Earlier this month,  Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Minister, EP Chet Greene, clarified that he had left the island for medical treatment abroad but remains a refugee of the country.