Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi arrested in PNB fraud case

Following India's extradition request, Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamond merchant and prime accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud, was arrested by the Belgian government on Saturday.

As per sources, Choksi had hidden his Indian and Antiguan citizenship in Belgium. Further, the accused was making an attempt to escape to Switzerland and came over to Belgium for the treatment of cancer.

While the Enforcement Director (ED) and CBI were keeping the track, Belgian agencies were alerted of the same as soon as the information was received. Furthermore, all the documents pertaining to surveillance and open arrest were shared with the Belgian agencies.

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Thereafter, Belgian agencies took to arrest the fugitive business merchant Choksi.

Reports suggest that his arrest was based on two non-bailable warrants issued by the Mumbai court, dated May 23, 2018 and June 15, 2021.

Earlier after taking Antiguan citizenship in 2017, he fled with his family to Antigua in 2018. Also, he was arrested once in Dominica before this, but after spending 51 days in jail, he was given relief by the Privy Council of the British Queen.

PNB loan 'fraud' case involving Choksi

The diamantaire with his nephew and diamond trader Nirav Modi together with their family members as well as employees, bank officials and others had been charged by the ED and CBI with a loan fraud at the Brady House branch of PNB in Mumbai.