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 his father, who is an accused in the Punjab National Bank scam. The court’s comments were in response to a petition filed by Choksi’s son against the National Spot Exchange Limited’s decision to include him in a ₹937-crore recovery suit. The apex court’s observation has sparked a flurry of interest, with many wondering about the current status of Mehul Choksi, who has been at the center of a high-profile extradition battle.
Mehul Choksi, a fugitive businessman, has been accused of perpetrating a massive fraud on the Punjab National Bank, which is one of the largest banks in India. The scam, which is estimated to be worth over ₹13,000 crore, involved the issuance of fake letters of undertaking (LoUs) to Choksi’s companies, which were then used to secure loans from overseas banks. Choksi, who is a diamond merchant, has been on the run since the scam was unearthed in 2018 and has been living in Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean island nation.
The Indian government has been trying to extradite Choksi to face trial in the country, but he has been resisting the efforts, citing health reasons and claiming that he would not receive a fair trial in India. The Antiguan government has also been hesitant to extradite Choksi, with the country’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, stating that Choksi is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda and would be treated as such.
The Supreme Court’s recent observation, however, suggests that the Indian government is not giving up on its efforts to bring Choksi to justice. The court’s comment, “Where’s your respected father nowadays? The country is waiting to give him a red-carpet welcome,” is a clear indication that the Indian authorities are eager to have Choksi back in the country to face trial.
The petition filed by Choksi’s son was an attempt to avoid being included in the ₹937-crore recovery suit filed by the National Spot Exchange Limited. The company had alleged that Choksi’s son was a beneficiary of the scam and had received funds from the fraudulent transactions. The Supreme Court, however, dismissed the petition, stating that Choksi’s son had failed to provide any evidence to support his claim.
The dismissal of the petition is a significant setback for Choksi’s family, which has been trying to protect its interests in the face of the ongoing investigation into the Punjab National Bank scam. The Indian government has already seized several properties belonging to Choksi and his family, including a luxurious mansion in Mumbai and several other assets.
The Supreme Court’s observation is also a clear message to Choksi and his family that they cannot avoid the law indefinitely. The Indian government has been working tirelessly to bring Choksi to justice, and the court’s comment suggests that the authorities are confident of their ability to extradite him.
In recent months, the Indian government has been stepping up its efforts to bring Choksi to justice. The government has been working closely with the Antiguan authorities to extradite Choksi, and there have been reports of several meetings between Indian officials and their Antiguan counterparts to discuss the issue.
The extradition battle has been a long and complex one, with several twists and turns. Choksi has been using every available legal avenue to resist his extradition, including filing petitions in the Antiguan courts and claiming that he would be subjected to torture and human rights abuses if he were to be sent back to India.
Despite the challenges, the Indian government remains committed to bringing Choksi to justice. The government has been working to strengthen its case against Choksi, gathering evidence and building a strong legal framework to support its extradition request.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s recent observation is a clear indication that the Indian government is not giving up on its efforts to bring Mehul Choksi to justice. The comment, “Where’s your respected father nowadays? The country is waiting to give him a red-carpet welcome,” is a scathing remark that suggests the authorities are confident of their ability to extradite Choksi and bring him to trial.
As the extradition battle continues, it remains to be seen how Choksi will respond to the Supreme Court’s observation. One thing is certain, however – the Indian government will not give up on its efforts to bring Choksi to justice, and the fugitive businessman will eventually have to face the law.
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