Where’s your father, country waiting to give him red carpet: SC to Choksi’s son
The Supreme Court of India has made a scathing remark in a recent hearing, asking the son of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi where his father is hiding. The court’s comment came while dismissing 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 is a clear indication of the country’s eagerness to bring Choksi to justice, who is an accused in the Punjab National Bank scam and is being pursued for extradition.
Mehul Choksi, the founder of Gitanjali Gems, has been on the run since 2018, when the Punjab National Bank scam came to light. The scam, which involved the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) to Choksi’s companies, resulted in a loss of over ₹13,000 crore to the bank. Choksi, who had obtained citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017, has been living in the Caribbean island nation since then. Despite repeated attempts by Indian authorities to extradite him, Choksi has managed to evade the law, citing health reasons and other excuses.
The recent petition filed by Choksi’s son was an attempt to distance himself from his father’s dealings and avoid being included in the recovery suit. However, the Supreme Court was unsympathetic to his plea, and in a stern remark, asked him where his father was hiding. “Where’s your respected father nowadays? The country is waiting to give him a red-carpet welcome,” the court said. The court’s comment is a clear indication that it is not buying into the excuses made by Choksi and his family, and is determined to bring him to justice.
The Punjab National Bank scam, which was uncovered in 2018, is one of the biggest banking scams in Indian history. The scam involved the issuance of LoUs to Choksi’s companies, which were then used to obtain credit from overseas banks. The LoUs were issued without proper collateral, and the credit obtained was then used to pay off earlier loans, creating a cycle of debt that ultimately resulted in a huge loss to the bank. The scam was perpetrated by Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, who is also an accused in the case.
The Indian government has been trying to extradite Choksi and Modi since 2018, but both have managed to evade the law so far. Choksi has been living in Antigua and Barbuda, where he obtained citizenship in 2017, while Modi is currently in a UK prison, fighting extradition proceedings. The Indian government has been working with international authorities to bring both men to justice, but the process has been slow and complicated.
The Supreme Court’s remark is a clear indication that the country is eager to bring Choksi to justice, and is not willing to let him hide behind excuses and technicalities. The court’s comment is also a warning to others who may be thinking of following in Choksi’s footsteps, that the law will catch up with them eventually. The country is waiting to give Choksi a “red-carpet welcome”, which is a clear indication that he will be given a warm reception, but not the kind he would like.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s remark is a clear indication that the country is determined to bring Mehul Choksi to justice. The court’s comment is a warning to others who may be thinking of evading the law, that they will be caught eventually. The country is waiting to give Choksi a “red-carpet welcome”, but it will be a welcome that he will not enjoy. The Indian government and the judiciary are working together to bring fugitive businessmen like Choksi to justice, and it is only a matter of time before he is brought to book.
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