Following the arrest of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi in Belgium, Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam whistle-blower Hariprasad SV has expressed concern over the difficulty of extraditing Choksi back to India, citing his financial clout and legal strategies.
Speaking to Media, Hariprasad said, “Extradition is not an easy task. Choksi’s wallet is full, and he will employ the best lawyers in Europe to avoid the process like what Vijay Mallya has been doing. I don’t think it is going to be easy for India to get him back.”
He recalled Choksi’s past legal manoeuvres, particularly how he managed to evade extradition during his detention in Dominica.
“When he was caught in Antigua (Dominica) and other islands, he could manage to get out of it because he has a fleet of lawyers. But I wish and hope that this time, the Indian government will succeed,” he added.
Hariprasad also revealed that over 100 franchises had been duped by Choksi and that many had filed cases across different cities in India.
“Even I got his arrest warrant from Bangalore police, but nothing really happened as he was smart enough to get away from the clutches of law,” he said.
He praised the Indian legal system but emphasized the complexities of extradition, especially when dealing with foreign jurisdictions.
“The legal system in India is undoubtedly very great, but the extradition process depends on the country we are dealing with. This case is not going to be easy, as he has so much money,” he stated.
Hariprasad had earlier written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on July 26, 2016, raising red flags about a possible large-scale scam involving Choksi. His alert was based on inconsistencies in balance sheets that hinted at fraudulent activity.
Meanwhile, according to sources, Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday after local law enforcement confirmed his presence. Efforts are now underway to extradite him to India.
However, Choksi’s legal team is preparing for a strong defence, planning to apply for bail and resist extradition on medical and legal grounds.
The 65-year-old diamond merchant, who fled India on January 2, 2018, is wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank of Rs 13,850 crore. His nephew, Nirav Modi, is also a co-accused in the massive banking fraud.