Mehul Choksi PNB Bank Scandal and Arrest

Mehul Choksi's involvement in the PNB Bank scandal led to his arrest in 2018. He was accused of being part of a massive loan fraud scheme that involved several Indian banks.

Mehul Choksi's arrest was a result of a long investigation by Indian authorities into the PNB Bank scandal. The investigation revealed that Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, had cheated several Indian banks out of billions of dollars.

The arrest took place in Antigua and Barbuda, where Choksi had taken citizenship. He was extradited to India in 2021 after a lengthy legal battle.

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Mehul Choksi is wanted by Indian authorities in connection with a $1.8bn fraud case at Punjab National Bank (PNB). He's accused of diverting and laundering funds, along with his nephew Nirav Modi.

Mr. Choksi and Mr. Modi were high-profile diamond traders, with Choksi owning Gitanjali Gems, an Indian jewellery retailer with about 4,000 stores across India. Modi's jewellery was worn by Hollywood celebrities like Naomi Watts and Kate Winslet.

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The duo allegedly defrauded PNB, and their case has been pending for years. Choksi left India in 2018, reportedly traveling to the US and later to Antigua, where he has citizenship.

Here are the key players involved in the PNB fraud case:

Choksi's lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, claims that his client is not a flight risk and is undergoing cancer treatment. Aggarwal also argues that Choksi's arrest in Belgium was a result of India's extradition request, making him effectively under Indian jurisdiction.

Mehul Choksi is suing the Indian government and five individuals in the High Court in London for alleged "kidnap, torture and attempted rendition".

The Indian authorities have denied the allegations and objected to the U.K. jurisdiction based on "state immunity".

Choksi claims to have been tortured back in May 2021 as part of a kidnap attempt "orchestrated by the government of India".

The Indian side argued that Choksi's claims are "extremely serious allegations against India, alleging it masterminded an international plot to kidnap and harm him".

Choksi's lawyers allege that there was a collusion between five individuals in the attack on him in Antigua to be forcibly taken to Dominica in the Caribbean with the purpose of being "rendered" to India.

The Defendants allegedly entered into an unlawful means conspiracy whereby the Defendants agreed to, and then did, inflict unlawful and injurious acts on the Claimant by means of assault, battery, false imprisonment, unlawful detention, and/or unlawful restriction of liberty.

The Indian government claims that Choksi's lawsuit is being pursued with the intention of causing embarrassment to India and obtaining leverage in his international attempts to avoid extradition.

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Mehul Choksi left India in 2018, and his arrest in Belgium was a result of India's request for his extradition. He was wanted by India over allegations of involvement in a case of defrauding one of the country's largest banks of nearly $1.8bn (£1.3bn).

He was arrested on Saturday, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told the BBC on Monday. Mr Aggarwal said they would appeal against his detention and also oppose his extradition to India.

Mr Choksi has been living abroad since 2018, and his lawyer claimed he is not a flight risk. He is also extremely sick, undergoing cancer treatment.

The action to arrest Mr Choksi came now because of two non-bailable warrants issued by an Indian court in 2018 and 2021.

Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted by Indian authorities in connection with a $1.8bn fraud case at Punjab National Bank (PNB).

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