BIG WIN: Mehul Choksi cornered by ED, Dubai properties worth Rs 24 crore attached in connection with PNB scam

In yet another massive development, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday has attached immovable properties worth crores of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi in connection with the PNB scam. The ED has attached Rs 24.77 crores worth properties of Mehul Choksi, who is the uncle of PNB scam accused Nirav Modi. The Rs 24.77 crores worth attachments of Choksi include 3 commercial properties in Dubai, one Mercedes Benz, valuables and Fixed Deposit Accounts under the name of the scamster. 

This development has come days after the Government of Antigua stated that Choksi's citizenship will be revoked and he will be repatriated to India. Mehul Choksi has been in Antigua and Barbuda after he was granted citizenship of the Island nation on January 15, 2018. He has been living in this country since 2018 after fleeing from India. A Red Notice has been issued against Choksi by the Government of Antigua on the request of ED.

READ | Big Diplomatic Victory For India: Fugitive Diamantaire Mehul Choksi To Be Extradited To India, Confirms Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne

Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne, on June 25, released a statement saying that Antigua and Barbuda citizenship of fraudster Choksi will be revoked in short order.

“His citizenship was processed; he got through but the reality is his citizenship will be revoked and he will be repatriated to India; so there is recourse," the Antiguan PM had said.

The Enforcement Directorate has registered a money-laundering case against the fugitive diamantaire under the PMLA, 2002 Act in the PNB scam, alongside his nephew Nirav Modi. In the case, the ED has made a total attachments/seizures of Rs 2534.7 Crores and the total proceeds of the crime have come up to be Rs 6097.73 Crores. 

Both Choksi and Nirav Modi have been absconding from India. They are the main accused of defrauding India's second-largest state-run bank PNB to the tune of over Rs 13,000 crore.

Meanwhile, on June 27, Switzerland-based Banks locked down four bank accounts of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi in connection with the PNB scam, after reliable inputs from the ED to the Swiss government.

READ | "India In Constant Touch With Antigua And Will Act Once Confirmation Of Mehul Choksi's Citizenship Revocation Is Made," Says MEA Sources