Earlier in September, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent a reminder to Interpol about its application seeking a red corner notice against Choksi.
Mehul Choksi (Photo: Twitter)
The global police body, Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi on request of the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Choksi is accused of cheating state-run Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore in alleged collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi.
“The Interpol has issued a Red Corner Notice against Mehul Choksi on the request of CBI,” CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said.
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Choksi, the uncle of PNB fraud main accused Nirav Modi, is currently living in Antigua having fled to the Caribbean island nation on a passport he obtained via the country’s Citizenship by Investment programme in November 2017.
Earlier in September, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent a reminder to Interpol about its application seeking a red corner notice against Choksi.
They said a detailed request for issuance of the arrest warrant against Choksi by the global police body was sent in June, soon after the ED filed a charge sheet against him in a Mumbai court
The officials said the Interpol subsequently sought more information about the criminal case filed by it against Choksi, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which was replied to and now a reminder has been sent through the national central bureau (NCB) of the Interpol in India, that is entrusted with the CBI.
Both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are probing the case.
Once an RCN is issued against a fugitive, Interpol asks its 192 member countries to arrest or detain the person if spotted in their countries after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.
The RCN request was earlier put on hold by the Interpol after a representation by Choksi during which he had alleged that the cases against him were a result of political conspiracy.
The CBI had then given a very strong rebuttal to the claims of the fugitive billionaire.
On the request of ED and the CBI, the Interpol had earlier issued Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi.
(With PTI inputs)
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