Where’s your father, country waiting to give him red carpet: SC to Choksi’s son
In a scathing remark, the Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition filed by Mehul Choksi’s son, questioning the decision of the National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL) to include him in a ₹937-crore recovery suit. The court’s decision has sent a strong message to the family of Mehul Choksi, who is an accused in the Punjab National Bank scam and is currently being pursued for extradition.
The Supreme Court’s comment, “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 Mehul Choksi’s continued absence from the country. Choksi, who is the promoter of Gitanjali Gems, is accused of being involved in a ₹13,000-crore scam at the Punjab National Bank. He has been living in Antigua and Barbuda since 2018, and has been resisting efforts by the Indian government to extradite him.
The petition filed by Choksi’s son was an attempt to challenge the decision of the NSEL to include him in the recovery suit. The NSEL had filed the suit against Choksi and his companies, alleging that they had defaulted on payments worth ₹937 crore. Choksi’s son had argued that he was not involved in the business and should not be held liable for the default.
However, the Supreme Court was not convinced by this argument. The court observed that Choksi’s son had failed to provide any evidence to support his claim that he was not involved in the business. The court also noted that Choksi’s son had not explained why his father was not present in the country to face the charges against him.
The Supreme Court’s decision is a significant setback for Choksi’s family, who have been trying to protect their interests in the face of mounting evidence against them. The court’s comment about the country waiting to give Choksi a “red-carpet welcome” is a clear indication that the Indian government is determined to bring him to justice.
The Punjab National Bank scam, in which Choksi is accused of being involved, is one of the largest banking scams in Indian history. The scam involved the use of fake letters of undertaking (LoUs) to secure loans from foreign banks, which were then used to fund Choksi’s business empire. The scam was uncovered in 2018, and since then, the Indian government has been trying to extradite Choksi to face charges.
Choksi’s continued absence from the country has been a major embarrassment for the Indian government, which has been under pressure to bring him to justice. The government has been working with the authorities in Antigua and Barbuda to extradite Choksi, but so far, they have been unsuccessful.
The Supreme Court’s decision in this case is a significant development in the ongoing saga of the Punjab National Bank scam. It sends a strong message to those who are accused of being involved in the scam that they will be held accountable, and that the Indian government will not tolerate any attempts to evade justice.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the petition filed by Mehul Choksi’s son is a significant setback for the Choksi family. The court’s comment about the country waiting to give Choksi a “red-carpet welcome” is a clear indication that the Indian government is determined to bring him to justice. As the case against Choksi continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how the Indian government ultimately succeeds in bringing him to justice.
About the Author
