Where’s your father, country waiting to give him red carpet: SC to Choksi’s son
The Supreme Court of India recently made a scathing remark while dismissing a petition filed by Mehul Choksi’s son, inquiring about the whereabouts of the accused businessman and expressing the country’s eagerness to welcome him back. The petition was filed against the National Spot Exchange Limited’s (NSEL) decision to include Choksi’s son in a ₹937-crore recovery suit. The court’s comment has sparked widespread attention, given Mehul Choksi’s involvement in the high-profile Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam and the ongoing efforts to extradite him.
Mehul Choksi, the uncle of Nirav Modi, is a key accused in the ₹13,000-crore PNB scam, which is one of the largest banking scandals in Indian history. The scam involved the issuance of fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) to secure loans from overseas banks, which were then used to fund the business operations of Choksi’s companies. The scandal came to light in 2018, and since then, Choksi has been on the run, with Indian authorities making repeated attempts to bring him back to the country to face trial.
The Supreme Court’s remark, “Where’s your respected father nowadays? The…country is…waiting to give him a red-carpet welcome,” is a clear indication of the court’s frustration with Choksi’s continued absence and the perceived lack of cooperation from his family members. The comment also highlights the country’s determination to bring Choksi to justice and hold him accountable for his alleged role in the PNB scam.
The petition filed by Choksi’s son was an attempt to challenge the NSEL’s decision to include him in the recovery suit, which aims to recover ₹937 crore from various individuals and companies allegedly involved in the scam. The NSEL is a subsidiary of the Financial Technologies (India) Ltd (FTIL), which was founded by Jignesh Shah. The company was at the center of a major crisis in 2013, when it was discovered that several of its brokers had defaulted on payments, leading to a huge financial loss for investors.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the petition is a significant setback for Choksi’s son, who had argued that he was not involved in the alleged wrongdoing and should not be held liable for the actions of his father. However, the court’s decision suggests that the judiciary is taking a tough stance against those who are perceived to be trying to evade accountability or shield their family members from the law.
The case against Mehul Choksi and his associates is ongoing, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) working together to gather evidence and build a strong case against the accused. The ED has already attached assets worth thousands of crores, including properties, jewelry, and other valuables, in connection with the PNB scam.
The Indian government has also been making efforts to extradite Choksi from Antigua and Barbuda, where he has been living since 2018. Choksi had taken citizenship of the island nation in 2017, under the Citizenship by Investment program, which allows individuals to acquire citizenship in exchange for a significant investment in the country. However, the Indian government has been arguing that Choksi’s citizenship is not a legitimate ground for him to avoid extradition, given the seriousness of the charges against him.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s remark to Mehul Choksi’s son is a clear indication of the country’s determination to bring the accused businessman to justice. The court’s decision to dismiss the petition filed by Choksi’s son is a significant setback for those who are trying to evade accountability or shield their family members from the law. As the case against Choksi and his associates continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the Indian government will be successful in its efforts to extradite him and bring him to trial.
About the Author
