Fugitive Mehul Choksi living in Belgium is preparing to flee to Switzerland, India has expedited the extradition process

New Delhi. Punjab National Bank scam’s main accused and fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is now living in Belgium. Choksi obtained Belgium’s F-Residency Card on 15 November 2023, allowing him to live there and move freely in Europe. His wife Preeti Choksi is said to have helped him in this process. Preeti Choksi has Belgian citizenship. After the Indian and Antigua governments came to know about Choksi’s new whereabouts, India has now expedited his extradition process from Belgium.

Obtained Belgian visa through fraud
According to the Associated Times report, Mehul Choksi submitted false documents and incorrect information to obtain residency in Belgium. He hid details related to his Indian and Antiguan citizenship and misled the government there on the basis of fake documents. Antigua and Barbuda Foreign Minister EP Cheth Green recently confirmed that Choksi is no longer in Antigua and has left the country citing medical reasons. However, he did not clarify where he went.

Choksi trying to flee to Switzerland?
There is also news that Choksi is now planning to go to Switzerland, where he may try to get relief on humanitarian grounds by saying that he is getting treatment at a cancer hospital called Hirslanden Clinic Aarau. Even before this, he has been avoiding coming to India by fabricating fake stories of kidnapping and torture. This new trick of Choksi may be to get permanent residence (F + card) in Belgium and get legal protection there.

India’s legal action
Chauksey, the mastermind of the Rs 16,000 crore PNB scam in India, became a citizen of Antigua in 2017 and took refuge there. The Indian government had registered a case against him under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act and on 25 September 2019, he was officially declared a fugitive economic offender. Interpol had also issued a red corner notice against him, but every time he tried to escape by taking advantage of legal loopholes.

New obstacle in extradition
Now, with Chauksey taking refuge in Belgium, India’s extradition efforts may suffer another setback. After getting temporary residency in Belgium, he can easily travel to other countries in Europe. After getting permanent residency there, it may be even more difficult to send him to India. Questions are being raised on the Belgian government not properly investigating his background. The issue is being raised at the public and international level as to why the Belgian government did not exercise due diligence in its citizenship application process. Now it remains to be seen what further steps the Indian government takes to bring back the due diligence.