Fugitive Businessman Mehul Choksi Reportedly Resides in Belgium

Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly living in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife after obtaining a residency card. Indian authorities are seeking his extradition due to his involvement in a ₹13,500 crore bank fraud case. He is accused of providing false information to gain residency and may plan to move to Switzerland for medical treatment.

Mehul Choksi, a fugitive businessman, is reportedly residing in Antwerp, Belgium, with his wife Preeti Choksi. He obtained a residency card in the country, as stated in a report by Associated Times, a media outlet focused on Caribbean news. Indian authorities are in communication with their Belgian counterparts, requesting Choksi’s extradition to India, but there has been no immediate confirmation from Indian officials regarding the status of this request.

Choksi is reportedly linked to a significant bank fraud case involving ₹13,500 crores against Punjab National Bank (PNB) and was previously believed to be living in Antigua and Barbuda. His spouse, Preeti Choksi, is a Belgian citizen. It is alleged that Choksi provided misleading and possibly forged documents to gain residency in Belgium, thus seeking to evade extradition.

Specifically, sources indicate that Choksi filled out forms with “false declarations” and “forged documents,” not disclosing his Indian and Antiguan citizenship during the residency application process. Furthermore, Choksi is said to be planning to relocate to Switzerland under the pretext of seeking medical treatment at a renowned cancer hospital. He, alongside his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused of misappropriating ₹13,500 crores from public funds using fraudulent methods.

Currently, Nirav Modi is incarcerated in London, where he is contesting extradition to India after being denied bail multiple times. Noteworthy is that Choksi initially disappeared from Antigua in May 2021 but was later located and returned to the island nation.

In summary, Mehul Choksi is residing in Belgium after allegedly securing residency through fraudulent means. The Indian government is pursuing extradition to bring him back to face charges related to a major bank fraud. Meanwhile, his plans to potentially move to Switzerland are under scrutiny, as he and his associate Nirav Modi continue to navigate legal battles concerning their extradition from abroad.

Original Source: indianexpress.com