Even As India Awaits His Extradition, CBI Wants PNB Scam Accused Mehul Choksi To Be Declared Proclaimed Offender

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has moved court with a plea to declare fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, one of the main accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused a proclaimed offender.

On Thursday, while moving the plea before the special judge for CBI cases VC Barde, the agency said Choksi left the country even before the first FIR was filed in the case to "conceal himself".

"Choksi has already taken citizenship of Antigua, one of the Caribbean Islands, in order to avoid execution of warrant issued by the court," it said.

BCCL/ FILE

The CBI also opposed Choksi's plea for cancellation of the NBW issued against him.

"The accused is absconding...It's our right to interrogate him," CBI lawyer A Limosin said.

The CBI requested the court to declare Choksi a proclaimed offender and attach his properties under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Under section 82 of CrPC, a court can publish a proclamation requiring the accused to appear if the warrant issued against him cannot be executed.

The development comes even as the court in Antigua and Barbuda is yet to decided on his extradition to India.

Calling him a "crook" Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said that Choksi will be repatriated to India after he exhausts all legal options, and the deportation is "just a matter of time".

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are the prime accused in the Rs 13,400 crore PNB scam, where they used fraudulent LoUs to swindle off the money for years.

The duo along with their families had fled the country in 2018 to evade arrest. While Choksi had already taken citizenship in Antigua, Nirav Modi had been living n London. Was as later arrested by the Scotland Yard on India's request and is also facing extradition.