New Delhi [India]: Following the arrest of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in Belgium, Congress leader Supriya Shrinate stated that such developments are meaningless unless the public’s money is recovered.
Referring to other financial fugitives such as Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya, and Vinay Mittal, Shrinate criticized the government for allowing these individuals to escape after 2014, questioning the accountability of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.
“The reality is that attempts were made earlier also to bring people back… A plane was sent to Dominic to bring Mehul Choksi back and Rs 44 crores were spent. Whether it is Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, Vinay Mittal or Vijay Mallya, all such people who looted lakhs and crores of rupees and left, have not been brought back,” Shrinate said.
“The way financial fugitives have escaped from under PM Modi’s nose after 2014, there should be accountability for that. All of this means nothing till people’s money is not returned,” Shrinate told ANI.
Belgium’s Federal Public Service of Justice confirmed the arrest of Mehul Choksi on April 12, adding that he is currently in detention while judicial proceedings are underway. The Indian government has formally submitted an extradition request.
“The Belgian federal public service of Justice can confirm that Mr. Mehul Choksi was arrested on Saturday 12th of April 2025. He is being detained in anticipation of further judicial proceedings. Access to his legal counsel has been assured,” the Belgian authorities told ANI.
“Finally, the Belgian federal public service of Justice can confirm that the Indian authorities have introduced an extradition request for Mr. Choksi. As is standard in individual cases, no further details can be released at this stage,” they added.
Choksi, 65, fled India on January 2, 2018, and is wanted by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged involvement in the Rs 13,850 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. His nephew, Nirav Modi, was also implicated in the fraud.
According to investigation agencies, between 2014 and 2017, Choksi, in collusion with his associates and PNB officials, fraudulently obtained Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit, causing a wrongful loss of Rs 6,097.63 crore to the public sector bank.