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 court’s statement has sparked a lot of interest and debate, with many seeing it as a reflection of the country’s frustration with Choksi’s continued absence.
Mehul Choksi, the uncle of Nirav Modi, is an accused in the Punjab National Bank scam, one of the biggest banking scams in Indian history. He is alleged to have defrauded the bank of over ₹13,000 crore, along with his nephew Nirav Modi. Choksi has been on the run since the scam was discovered in 2018 and is currently living in Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean island nation. The Indian government has been trying to extradite him to face trial, but Choksi has been resisting, citing health reasons and claiming that he will not get a fair trial in India.
The Supreme Court’s comment on Choksi’s whereabouts is a clear indication of the country’s impatience with his continued absence. “Where’s your respected father nowadays? The…country is…waiting to give him a red-carpet welcome,” the court said, its tone dripping with sarcasm. The court’s remark is not just a reflection of its frustration with Choksi’s absence but also a signal to him that he cannot evade the law forever.
The petition filed by Choksi’s son was an attempt to avoid being included in the recovery suit filed by the National Spot Exchange Limited. The company is seeking to recover ₹937 crore from Choksi and his associates, alleging that they had defrauded the company through illegal trading activities. Choksi’s son had argued that he was not involved in his father’s business dealings and should not be held liable for his father’s actions. However, the court rejected his petition, saying that he had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support his claim.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a significant blow to Choksi’s son, who was trying to distance himself from his father’s controversial business dealings. The court’s remark on Choksi’s whereabouts is also a clear message to him that he cannot escape the consequences of his father’s actions. The country is waiting for Choksi to return and face trial, and the court’s comment is a reminder that he will be given a “red-carpet welcome” when he does.
The Punjab National Bank scam, in which Choksi is an accused, is one of the biggest banking scams in Indian history. The scam involved the use of fake letters of undertaking (LoUs) to defraud the bank of over ₹13,000 crore. Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are alleged to have used the LoUs to secure loans from overseas banks, which they then defaulted on. The scam was discovered in 2018, and since then, Choksi and Modi have been on the run, evading the law and avoiding extradition.
The Indian government has been trying to extradite Choksi and Modi to face trial, but they have been resisting, citing health reasons and claiming that they will not get a fair trial in India. Choksi has been living in Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean island nation, since 2018, and has been granted citizenship there. However, the Indian government has been trying to revoke his citizenship and extradite him to India.
The Supreme Court’s comment on Choksi’s whereabouts is a clear indication of the country’s frustration with his continued absence. The court’s remark is not just a reflection of its frustration but also a signal to Choksi that he cannot evade the law forever. The country is waiting for him to return and face trial, and the court’s comment is a reminder that he will be given a “red-carpet welcome” when he does.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s remark on Choksi’s whereabouts is a significant development in the Punjab National Bank scam case. The court’s comment is a clear indication of the country’s frustration with Choksi’s continued absence and a signal to him that he cannot evade the law forever. The country is waiting for him to return and face trial, and the court’s remark is a reminder that he will be given a “red-carpet welcome” when he does.
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