Where’s your father, country waiting to give him red carpet: SC to Choksi’s son
In a recent hearing, the Supreme Court of India made a scathing remark to Mehul Choksi’s son, asking him about the whereabouts of his father, who is currently an accused in the Punjab National Bank scam. The court’s comment came 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 dismissed the petition, stating that the country is waiting to give Mehul Choksi a “red-carpet welcome.”
Mehul Choksi, a businessman and the owner of Gitanjali Gems, is one of the key accused in the ₹13,000-crore Punjab National Bank scam. He is alleged to have defrauded the bank by obtaining loans and credit facilities using fake guarantees and letters of undertaking. Choksi fled the country in 2018, just before the scam was uncovered, and has since 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. However, Choksi has claimed that he is unable to return to India due to health reasons. The government has rejected his claims, stating that he is trying to avoid prosecution.
The Supreme Court’s comment on Choksi’s son’s petition is a clear indication of the court’s frustration with the accused’s attempts to evade justice. The court’s remark, “Where’s your respected father nowadays? The country is waiting to give him a red-carpet welcome,” is a sarcastic reference to the fact that Choksi is being pursued by the Indian authorities for his alleged role in the scam.
The National Spot Exchange Limited’s decision to include Choksi’s son in the recovery suit is based on the fact that he is a beneficiary of the companies owned by his father. The company has alleged that Choksi’s son had knowledge of the scam and had benefitted from it. The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the petition filed by Choksi’s son means that he will now be included in the recovery suit, and the court will hear the case against him.
The Punjab National Bank scam is one of the largest banking scams in India’s history, and the case has been widely reported in the media. The scam involved the use of fake guarantees and letters of undertaking to obtain loans and credit facilities from the bank. The accused, including Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, are alleged to have defrauded the bank of over ₹13,000 crore.
The Indian government has taken several steps to recover the money and to bring the accused to justice. The government has frozen the assets of the accused and has filed charges against them in court. The government has also approached the international community to seek assistance in extraditing the accused to India.
The Supreme Court’s comment on Choksi’s son’s petition is a clear indication that the court is determined to ensure that justice is served in the case. The court’s remark is a warning to those who are trying to evade justice, and it sends a strong message that the country will not tolerate corruption and fraud.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s dismissal of the petition filed by Mehul Choksi’s son is a significant development in the Punjab National Bank scam case. The court’s comment on Choksi’s son’s petition is a clear indication of the court’s frustration with the accused’s attempts to evade justice. The case is a reminder that corruption and fraud will not be tolerated in India, and that those who are accused of such crimes will be pursued and brought to justice.
About the Author
