Pressure Mounts to Extradite Mehul Choksi After Nirav Modi’s Legal Loss
Following Nirav Modi’s defeat in his extradition case in the United Kingdom, calls for the extradition of his uncle, Mehul Choksi, from Antigua and Barbuda are growing louder. The two men are accused of orchestrating a massive $2 billion fraud involving Punjab National Bank (PNB), India’s second-largest public lender.
Legal experts note that with Modi’s case now behind him, Choksi’s situation is at a critical juncture, with substantial evidence supporting the need for his extradition. Modi is currently imprisoned in HM Prison Thameside in southeast London, after being transferred from HMP Wandsworth in late 2023.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Choksi and Modi first secured a fraudulent loan in March 2011 using a fake Letter of Undertaking (LOU). Over the next six years, they managed to secure 1,212 more such letters, enabling them to illicitly withdraw massive sums of money from overseas branches without proper documentation.
The duo created an intricate web of deception, aided by powerful connections within the authorities, and managed to flee India before the full extent of their fraud was discovered. Both men were subsequently declared fugitives by Indian authorities.
While Modi took refuge in the UK through the Golden Visa program, Choksi obtained citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda through the country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, escaping to the Caribbean in the wake of the scam.
As the Indian government intensifies its efforts to secure their return, pressure is building on both the United Kingdom and Antigua and Barbuda to extradite Choksi and Modi to stand trial in India.
Mehul Choksi’s Flight to Antigua and Barbuda
Mehul Choksi acquired Antigua and Barbuda citizenship as part of the country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, seeking refuge after the PNB fraud was exposed. However, Choksi continued his corrupt activities in Antigua, attempting to manipulate the country’s legal system to avoid facing charges in India.
Nirav Modi’s Escape to London
Meanwhile, Nirav Modi fled to the UK in 2018, seeking asylum after the fraud allegations were made public. The Indian authorities issued an arrest warrant, and Modi was detained in March 2019 under an extradition request. He faces charges in India, including defrauding PNB and interfering with evidence and witnesses.
Choksi’s Alleged Kidnapping Scheme to Avoid Extradition
In a bid to delay his extradition, Choksi reportedly orchestrated a fake kidnapping. He allegedly paid two Jamaican transporters to take him to Cuba, a country with no extradition agreement with India. However, after considering the dangers in Cuba, he changed his route and ended up in Dominica, where he was arrested by local authorities. They quickly identified him as an Indian fugitive and detained him.
As both Modi and Choksi continue to evade justice, Indian authorities remain determined to bring them back to face the charges they are accused of in connection with the massive PNB scam.