NEW DELHI: Mehul Choksi, a businessman on the run, is reported to be residing in Antwerp, Belgium, alongside his wife, Preeti Choksi. He has allegedly obtained an ‘F Residency Card’ in Belgium, as per media reports. Indian authorities have requested Belgium to commence extradition procedures following their discovery of his location, according to the Associated Times.
Choksi, who is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore, acquired Belgian residency and the ‘F Residency Card’ on November 15, 2023. This was reportedly facilitated by his wife, a Belgian national. As reported by a Caribbean-focused media outlet, Choksi is alleged to have falsified documentation to the Belgian authorities and misrepresented his nationality during the residency application process, omitting details regarding his current citizenship.
Prior to his arrival in Belgium, Choksi was thought to be living in Antigua and Barbuda, with plans to relocate to Switzerland. This development follows comments from Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Minister, EP Chet Greene, who confirmed that Choksi is no longer on the island. During his participation in the Raisina Dialogue, Greene stated that Choksi left Antigua for medical treatment abroad but remains a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. He also noted that both the Indian and Antiguan governments are working collaboratively on this issue.
Choksi fled India in January 2018 after being implicated in the PNB scam. His nephew, Nirav Modi, is also implicated and is currently undergoing extradition proceedings in London. In May 2023, Choksi informed a special court in Mumbai that circumstances beyond his control had hindered his return to India, contesting the label of ‘fugitive economic offender’. He claimed that he did not leave the country to evade prosecution and is not refusing to return, asserting that Indian authorities had suspended his passport.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) approached the special court seeking to designate him as a ‘fugitive economic offender’ due to his avoidance of their summons, which would allow for the confiscation of his assets under relevant laws. In May 2021, speculation arose regarding his abduction by Indian authorities when he went missing from Antigua; these claims were disproven after he was located in Dominica. Some suggested he was attempting to escape potential extradition.
Dominican authorities detained him for unlawful entry, but he was allowed to return to Antigua on medical grounds with temporary bail. The proceedings related to this were suspended in May 2022. Choksi contended that he did not enter illegally, alleging that individuals posing as police officers abducted him from his restaurant, Jolly Roger in Antigua, via boat to Dominica.
In December 2023, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed Parliament that assets valued at Rs 22,280 crore had been recovered or liquidated to settle the debts of individuals, including Choksi, who are wanted by authorities.
