Mehul Choksi likely to be extradited after arrest: Timeline of events that led to his arrest
PTC News Desk: India is one step closer in securing Mehul Choksi's extradition after he was arrested in Belgium acting on the request of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The 65-year-old diamond trader is wanted in India in the infamous Rs 13,850-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.
The case was established by central agencies including CBI and ED based on the testimonies and documents facilitated by key individuals, including Vipul Chitalia, the banking head of Choksi's Gitanjali Group; the group's finance team member, the late Deepak Kulkarni; and Gokulnath Shetty, the former Chief Manager at PNB.
The statements and evidence helped the agencies to unravel the extent of the conspiracy meticulously hatched and executed followed by systematic laundering and layering of the funds.
Here is the timeline of the events that led to the arrest of Choksi
Mehul Choksi fled India in 2018, initially travelling to the United States before settling in Antigua. A year prior, in 2017, he had acquired Antiguan nationality.
Choksi's nephew, Nirav Modi, was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London in May 2019. Although he has exhausted all legal avenues for extradition, he continues to be under arrest in the United Kingdom.
In March 2023, Interpol revoked the red notice against Mehul Choksi. In 2024, Choksi and his wife reportedly relocated from Antigua to Belgium.
Two weeks ago, Mehul Choksi and his wife, Preeti, obtained F-Residency cards in Belgium. Preeti, a Belgian citizen, has family ties in the country, as does Choksi's extended family.
Meanwhile, according to sources, Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday after local authorities confirmed his presence in the country.
- With inputs from agencies
