"Mehul Choksi’s wallet is full...": PNB scam whistle-blower explains why extradition won’t be easy

Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has reportedly been arrested in Belgium, but Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam whistle-blower Hariprasad SV believes that bringing him back to India will be very difficult.

Speaking to ANI, Hariprasad explained that Choksi has the resources to delay the extradition process by hiring top lawyers in Europe. “Extradition is not an easy task. Choksi's wallet is full, and he will employ the best lawyers in Europe to avoid the process like what Vijay Mallya has been doing. I don't think it is going to be easy for India to get him back,” he said.



Hariprasad also recalled how Choksi managed to escape legal proceedings earlier when he was caught in the Caribbean. “When he was caught in Antigua (Dominica) and other islands, he could manage to get out of it because he has a fleet of lawyers. But I wish and hope that this time, the Indian government will succeed,” he said.

Read more: Mehul Choksi arrested by Belgian police; India to seek extradition

Hundreds of franchises cheated, says Hariprasad

The whistle-blower further said that Choksi had duped at least 100 franchises across India, with many filing cases in different cities. “Even I got his arrest warrant from Bangalore police, but nothing really happened as he was smart enough to get away from the clutches of law,” Hariprasad told ANI.

He also commented on India’s legal system and how difficult international extraditions can be. “The legal system in India is undoubtedly very great, but the extradition process depends on the country we are dealing with. This case is not going to be easy, as he has so much money,” he said.

Whistle-blower raised alarm in 2016

Back on 26 July 2016, Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Hariprasad had written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), warning about a potential scam. He pointed out that the balance sheets had signs that something was wrong.

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Choksi prepares for legal fight

As per sources, Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday, and local authorities confirmed his presence in the country. The Indian government is now making preparations to bring him back.

However, Choksi is reportedly preparing for a legal battle. His defence team plans to apply for bail and oppose extradition. They are expected to cite his health condition as one of the reasons to challenge India’s request.

Choksi, aged 65, fled India on 2 January 2018. He is wanted by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Rs 13,850 crore PNB fraud case. His nephew, Nirav Modi, is also accused in the same case.

Inputs from ANI