Fugitive Mehul Choksi Living In Belgium With His Wife: Report

<p>Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamond trader who India is requesting be extradited in relation to the loan fraud case at Punjab National Bank, is currently in Belgium, media reports say.</p>
<p>Choksi is currently living in Belgium’s Antwerp with his wife, Preeti Choksi, after obtaining a ‘residency card’ in the country.</p>
<p>Reportedly, Choksi’s wife, a Belgian citizen, helped him gain residency in Belgium and a F Residency Card on November 15, 2023. Choksi has submitted false and deceptive documents to get residency in Belgium and to further evade extradition to India. Indian authorities have approached their Belgian counterparts to start the process of Choksi’s extradition, news website Associate Times reported.</p>
<p>Choksi is well aware that Indian officials are working with the Belgian government to get his repatriation, but Mehul Choksi may be able to travel freely between nations in order to evade the law if he were granted temporary status in Belgium and subsequently permanent residency.</p>
<p>Additionally, the report said that Choksi might be preparing to move once more. The reason for this trip could be to Switzerland for medical care at a renowned cancer centre. It is possible that this action will make the legal battle to get him back even more difficult.</p>
<p>It was believed that Choksi resided in Antigua &amp; Barbuda prior to his journey to Belgium.</p>
<h2>Choksi &amp; Nirav Modi Siphoned Off Rs 13,500 Cr</h2>
<p>It has been reported that Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi used fictitious letters of undertaking to embezzle Rs 13,500 crore in public funds from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB).</p>
<p>Following several court refusals of bail, Nirav Modi, who is currently incarcerated in London, is appealing his extradition to India.</p>
<p>Choksi disappeared from Antigua in May 2021 but was eventually located and brought back.</p>
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