Mehul Choksi contesting extradition proceedings, doesn't want to return to India: Enforcement Directorate

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told a special court here that absconding businessman Mehul Choksi, a prime accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, does not want to return to India as he is fighting extradition proceedings in Belgium.

The ED made the statement while opposing Choksi’s request to drop the proceedings to declare him a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO).A declaration as an FEO would allow Indian agencies to seize his assets, even those in foreign countries.The ED argued that the application had no merit, and should be dismissed.”FEO proceeding terminates only when he appears, so it cannot be terminated now.

It’s a special law with special provision,” the probe agency said.He is facing extradition proceedings in a court in Belgium where he shifted in 2023 after leaving Antigua and Barbuda. He and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in the over Rs 13,000 crore PNB fraud case.

Following his arrest in Belgium, Choksi moved a plea seeking to dismiss the plea filed by ED to declare him FEO.He is already in custody for cases pending in India for which extradition request was made by Indian Authorities in Belgium. Hence, the application to declare him as Fugitive Economic Offender should be dismissed, the plea said.