The primary accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, fugitive Mehul Choksi, refuses to return to India. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the special court on Thursday that Choksi is challenging the extradition in Belgium, actively contesting it.
ED's statement was made while opposing Choksi's plea seeking the annulment of his declaration as a 'Fugitive Economic Offender' (FEO). Being declared an FEO allows Indian authorities to seize his assets both in India and abroad. The ED argued that the plea lacked merit and should be dismissed.
The ED declared in court that the FEO process only concludes if the accused personally appears in court. It's a specialized law that cannot be prematurely ended. Choksi is currently facing extradition proceedings in a Belgian court after relocating from Antigua and Barbuda in 2023. He and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are wanted in the PNB fraud case exceeding 13,000 crore rupees.
Following his arrest in Belgium, Choksi sought to dismiss the ED's plea to declare him a FEO. The petition contended that since Choksi is already detained for ongoing cases in India, the FEO process should be terminated.
ED informed the court that Mehul Choksi has not yet been handed over to Indian authorities. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh noted that if Choksi wishes to return to India, the agency might reconsider the FEO designation process, but currently, Choksi remains committed to fighting the extradition process in Belgium.
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