Santosh Srivastava, the former Managing Director of Gitanjali Gems, has welcomed the arrest of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in Belgium, calling it a moment of hope for justice in the long-pending Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case.
Speaking to ANI on Monday, Srivastava, who also played the role of a whistle-blower, urged the Indian government to ensure Choksi’s immediate extradition and focus on the full recovery of defrauded public funds.
“It’s great news that Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium. As a whistle-blower in this case, who risked my life to try and expose it, I hope that the government brings him back to the country as soon as possible. Every bit of the money involved should be recovered,” Srivastava said.
Mehul Choksi, 65, was arrested on Saturday in Belgium, where he had reportedly traveled for cancer treatment after fleeing Antigua. He is wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in India for allegedly defrauding PNB of Rs 13,850 crore, in collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi and certain bank officials.
Choksi’s legal team, led by Vijay Aggarwal, has started preparing for a legal battle in Belgium. They are filing an appeal for his release from custody, citing ill health and ongoing treatment for cancer.
“The major ground for the plea is his ill health and that he is undergoing cancer treatment, and of course, he is not a flight risk at all,” Aggarwal told ANI in Delhi.
However, multiple whistle-blowers, including Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Hariprasad SV, remain skeptical about India’s chances of getting Choksi extradited, citing his vast legal resources and previous successful evasion in Dominica.
“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,” Hariprasad warned.
Choksi had acquired Antiguan citizenship in 2017, months before the scam came to light, and has since dodged extradition attempts. His assets worth over Rs 2,500 crore have been seized or attached by the ED, and several prosecution complaints have already been filed in Indian courts.
As the Indian government intensifies efforts to bring Choksi back, all eyes are now on the legal developments in Belgium, where authorities have confirmed his presence and are cooperating on India’s extradition request.