Mumbai, Sept 21: Loan-fraud accused diamantaire Mehul Choksi, declared as a fugitive by Indian authorities, has moved the court through his counsel seeking cancellation of the non-bailable warrant issued against him. Choksi's plea is based upon "threat to his life" in India, said his counsel Sanjay Abbot.

Abbot, who moved the petition on behalf of Choksi in the Mumbai-based Special CBI Court, said he has presented before the bench quotes and clips of TV debates where panelists said the accused should assassinated. PNB Responsible for Misinforming Probe Agencies, Mehul Choksi Alleges in Video From Antigua.

"In a debate on 27 July on a TV channel, some people said Mehul Choksi should be shot dead wherever he is. How will he face trials with such life threats? That's why I've moved additional application before court," Abbot said.

The court has taken cognizance of the plea and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to file a reply on October 3, which is the next date of hearing.

The application from Choksi's counsel comes days after the embattled jeweller released a video from Antigua, claiming that the Indian authorities are "deliberately framing" him in the loan-fraud case.

Choksi said his assets in India have been illegally seized, which has hindered his capability to repay the unpaid loans. He also charged the banks of levying unprecedented interest while his business operation has been brought to a standstill due to the "unconstitutional" actions taken by the probing agencies.

Notably, Choksi, along with his nephew and celebrity diamantaire Nirav Modi, is accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of Rs 13,800 crores. Days before the alleged scam was unearthed, both Choksi and Modi had left the nation in early January this year.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 21, 2018 04:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).