PNB Scam: Mehul Choksi Moves to Antigua; Gets Local Passport, Says Report

New Delhi, July 24: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who along with his nephew Nirav Modi is accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 13,400 crore, is currently based in Antigua.

According to a Press Trust of India report, Choksi moved into the Carribean nation earlier in the month and has obtained the local passport.

The revelation came after Antigua responded to an Interpol notice, claiming that they have given Choksi a legal passport after his arrival earlier in July.

The response from Antigua came to the second "red corner notice" issued by Interpol, which is equivalent to an international arrest warrant.

While Choksi's location has been confirmed to be Antigua, Nirav Modi is said to be based in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

The Enforcement Directorate, which is among the central agencies probing the case against Choksi and Modi, asked the special court in Mumbai to order the confiscation of the duo's assets valuing nearly Rs 3,500 crore and spread across India, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

With the new Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 passed in Lok Sabha, the government is now armed to not only confiscate, but sell the properties of economic offence accused who are evading prosecution.

Choksi, in an earlier statement issued before the court through his counsel, said he is unable to return to India due to the fear of "mob lynchings".

"There have been various cases of mob lynching in India... Even the applicant faces a similar threat as there are several persons who have grievances and anger against him (Mehul Choksi)," said the plea which sought the cancellation of non-bailable warrant issued against him.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2018 07:12 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).