The name Mehul Choksi has become synonymous with one of India’s biggest financial frauds. Known as the mastermind behind the infamous Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, Choksi’s story has taken yet another twist. A recent video circulating on social media reportedly details his elaborate escape plan and a sensational “kidnapping” plot aimed at avoiding extradition to India. The video has renewed interest in Choksi’s activities and cast a fresh spotlight on his alleged manipulative tactics. Here, we delve into the key events surrounding his escape, the alleged kidnapping scheme, and what it means for his case and India’s pursuit of justice.
Choksi and the PNB Scam: A Quick Recap
Mehul Choksi, a once-prominent Indian diamantaire and owner of the Gitanjali Group, allegedly played a central role in defrauding PNB of over Rs 12,000 crore alongside his nephew, Nirav Modi. The fraud, revealed on January 25, 2018, involved fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) that allowed Choksi and Modi to access significant credit without collateral. By the time PNB reported the crime, Choksi had already left India, taking refuge in Antigua and Barbuda, where he had obtained citizenship in late 2017. Since then, Choksi has remained a fugitive, evading the efforts of Indian authorities to bring him to justice under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
The Alleged Kidnapping Plot
In a recent video that has quickly gone viral, Choksi allegedly outlines a carefully orchestrated plan to evade extradition by staging his kidnapping. The video claims that he worked with two Jamaican transporters who were tasked with moving him from Antigua to Cuba, a country that lacks an extradition treaty with India, making it an ideal refuge for him. According to the video, Choksi even convinced a Hungarian tourist to rent a villa with a jetty, seemingly to ensure a smooth escape route.
The plot, however, faced significant roadblocks. Choksi reportedly injured himself during the ordeal and later received an unexpected call warning him of threats in Cuba. In light of these complications, he altered his plan and diverted to Dominica, where he was detained by local authorities. The video also suggests that Choksi allegedly used bribes to influence officials in Antigua and Barbuda to reinforce his kidnapping narrative and present himself as a victim rather than a fugitive.
Indian Authorities Respond
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in India have been relentlessly pursuing Choksi, seizing assets and filing multiple cases under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act to recover losses incurred by PNB. The recent video provides fresh grounds for Indian authorities to intensify their pursuit, potentially pressuring Antigua and Barbuda to revisit their stance on his protection.
According to the agency, his Antiguan citizenship and subsequent flight from India on January 2, 2018, were part of a larger plan to secure his freedom. Choksi’s legal team, however, disputes this, claiming that his passport revocation prevented him from returning to India and that his flight was unrelated to the PNB case.
