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PNB SCAM: Mehul Choksi snubs CBI probe, says no truth in allegations

The fugitive jeweller says he acquired foreign citizenship only to expand his business

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Fugitive Mehul Choksi
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Fugitive Mehul Choksi, who has been traced in Antigua and Barbuda and also found acquiring citizenship of the Caribbean Islands, snubbed at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)'s probe into the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. He said, "there is no truth in those allegations". "I can say categorically, there is no truth in those allegations and on the advice of my lawyers, I will not say anything more with respect to those allegations," Choksi said in a statement issued through his Attorney-at-law David Dorsett, in Antigua.

The CBI, which is already facing infighting as its director Alok Kumar Verma is going against his own men, are clueless about how to go ahead with the case. Moreover, they also refrained from issuing any statement regarding the development and remained tight-lipped over the case. Sources in the agency said that a "diktat" has been issued from Verma to maintain utmost secrecy on the development in the case.

Choksi further defended his act of getting citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda saying he did it to expand his business in the Caribbean and to obtain visa-free travel to 130 countries. He pointed out: "My application was motivated by my desire to expand my business interest in the Caribbean and to obtain visa-free access to 130 countries. That remains my reason to become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda."

He said that he had applied to be registered as a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda under the citizenship of investment programme and during the course of his application he did all that was legally required of him.

Choksi added, "In January 2018, I had to visit the United States to receive medical treatment. I am still in a state convalescence. That being the case, I have decided to reside in Antigua and Barbuda, the country of my citizenship and to abide by the laws of the country as is the duty of every citizen."

The fugitive swore allegiance to Antigua and Barbuda on January 15, this year. This was much before the investigation agencies started a probe into the Rs 13,578 crore fraud. This shows that Choksi had planned his escape and stay in Antigua much before the Indian government acted on the fraud.

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