Following the arrest of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi in Belgium, Punjab National Bank scam whistle-blower Hariprasad SV has cautioned that extraditing the fraud-accused tycoon to India will be a significant legal challenge.
Speaking to ANI, Hariprasad expressed concern over the legal hurdles ahead, pointing to Choksi’s history of evading justice with the help of high-profile lawyers.
“Extradition is not an easy task. Choksi’s wallet is full, and he will hire the best lawyers in Europe to dodge the process—just like Vijay Mallya has done. I don’t think it’s going to be easy for India to bring him back,” he said.
Hariprasad recalled Choksi’s earlier escape from the extradition process when he was caught in Dominica, only to be deported back to Antigua where he held citizenship. “When he was caught in Antigua (Dominica) and other islands, he managed to walk free because of his fleet of lawyers. But I sincerely hope that this time, the Indian government succeeds,” he added.
The whistle-blower, who had raised red flags as early as 2016 by writing to the Prime Minister’s Office about potential fraud, revealed that over 100 franchises had been duped by Choksi. “Most of them filed cases in various cities in India. Even I got an arrest warrant from Bengaluru Police, but nothing came of it—he was smart enough to escape the legal system,” Hariprasad said.
Highlighting the complexity of international law, he added, “The Indian legal system is undoubtedly very strong, but extradition heavily depends on the cooperation of the country involved. Choksi has money and influence—this won’t be easy.”
Choksi, who fled India in January 2018, is wanted by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate for allegedly defrauding Punjab National Bank of ₹13,850 crore. His nephew and co-accused, Nirav Modi, is currently imprisoned in the UK awaiting extradition.
Choksi’s arrest in Belgium comes after authorities confirmed his presence in the country. While preparations are underway to bring him back to India, his legal team is expected to apply for bail and fight extradition on the grounds of health and legal rights.
