#PNBScam : Govt asks Antigua and Barbuda officials to arrest fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi

New Delhi, July 30: Immediately after getting the hints of whereabouts of fugitive Punjab National Bank scam accused Mehul Choksi, the Indian government alerted the Antigua and Barbuda government and asked the country's authorities to arrest him.

 

Notably, as soon as reports in the media about Choksi's presence in Antigua were flashed the government officials alerted the Antigua and Barbuda government in writing and verbally and asked the country's authorities to arrest him. The government officials have also conveyed to the Antiguan authorities to prevent Choksi's movement from land, air or sea.

According to local media in Antigua, Mehul Choksi had taken Antigua citizenship last year to expand his business. Meanwhile, in a statement issued by his attorney David Dorsett on the diamantaire's behalf, Choksi said there was no truth in the allegations levelled by the Indian government.

The development comes nearly six months after the biggest fraudulent case hit Mumbai in the month of February where Punjab National Bank reported that it has detected fraudulent and unauthorized transactions in one of its branches in Mumbai. The cumulative fraud amounts stand to Rs 13000 crores. Both Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi are being investigated by Enforcement Directorate and CBI in the Punjab National bank mega scam.

However, Nirav Modi and his brother Nishal Modi left the country on 1st of January this year. Nirav Modi's wife, an American citizen, left India on 6 January while Mehul Choksi left the country on 4 January. CBI received a complaint from PNB on 29th Jan 2018 and registered the case on 31st January.