ED Seeks Fugitive Status for Mehul Choksi Again

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made its fifth attempt to declare businessman Mehul Choksi a fugitive economic offender (FEO) in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

On Friday, the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh argued before a special court in Mumbai to pass an order declaring Choksi a fugitive economic offender. The ED had first moved a plea to declare Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi fugitive economic offenders in July 2018.

While Modi has already been declared a fugitive economic offender and the process to confiscate his properties is underway, the ED's plea against Choksi is yet to be decided. The ED counsel contended that declaring Choksi a fugitive economic offender will help the agency confiscate his assets not only in India but also in foreign countries.

Choksi is currently lodged in a prison in Belgium, where he was arrested on April 12 last year, following an extradition request by Indian probe agencies. He is accused of obtaining a letter of undertaking through forged documents in the PNB scam.

Choksi had left India on January 2, 2018, claiming he was seeking better medical treatment, but never returned. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against Choksi and Modi in February 2018, and the ED initiated a probe for money laundering based on the CBI's case.

The special court has now adjourned the hearing to allow Choksi's lawyer to make submissions. This is the fifth time the ED has initiated arguments on the plea, but the court's decision has been delayed due to the transfer of judges.

The ED's pursuit of Choksi is part of its efforts to bring to justice those accused of committing economic offenses. The PNB scam, which involved the fraudulent issuance of letters of undertaking, is one of the largest banking scams in India's history.

The case has sparked a widespread investigation, with multiple agencies involved in pursuing those accused of committing the fraud. The ED's efforts to declare Choksi a fugitive economic offender are a significant step in this process.

The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the pursuit of economic offenders in India. If Choksi is declared a fugitive economic offender, it will pave the way for the confiscation of his assets and potentially set a precedent for future cases.

In conclusion, the ED's fifth attempt to declare Mehul Choksi a fugitive economic offender is a crucial step in the pursuit of justice in the PNB scam case. The outcome of the case will be closely watched, and its implications will be felt for years to come.