Fugitive Businessman Mehul Choksi Reportedly Residing in Belgium

Mehul Choksi is reportedly residing in Belgium after acquiring a residency card, raising extradition concerns from India. Accusations claim he provided false documentation for residency. He is wanted in a Rs 13,500 crore bank fraud case and is planning to move to Switzerland for medical treatment, with his nephew Nirav Modi facing extradition issues in London.

Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is reportedly residing in Antwerp, Belgium, along with his wife, Preeti Choksi, having acquired a ‘residency card’. Indian authorities have called upon the Belgian government to commence his extradition process, though this has not yet been officially confirmed.

Choksi is wanted in India for his alleged involvement in a significant bank loan fraud case amounting to Rs 13,500 crore. Prior to his life in Belgium, he was believed to be living in Antigua and Barbuda, where Preeti holds Belgian citizenship.

Accusations indicate that Choksi may have procured his Belgian residency through fraudulent means, supplying misleading information and forged documentation during his application. Sources suggest he omitted relevant details about his Indian and Antiguan citizenships.

Reports suggest further plans for Choksi to relocate to Switzerland, purportedly for medical treatment at a prominent cancer treatment facility. Alongside Choksi, his nephew Nirav Modi is embroiled in similar legal predicaments, currently facing extradition proceedings while incarcerated in London for the same financial crimes against Punjab National Bank (PNB).

In May 2021, Choksi’s disappearance from Antigua gained attention; however, he was subsequently located and returned to the island.

The article highlights Mehul Choksi’s current residency in Belgium, his alleged fraudulent means of obtaining residency, and the extradition efforts by Indian authorities. It also touches upon his past associations with significant financial crimes and his family ties, notably with his nephew Nirav Modi, who faces similar allegations. The situation underscores ongoing legal complexities surrounding Choksi’s status between multiple nations.

Original Source: indianexpress.com