A co-accused in the Punjab National Bank fraud case, fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi moved the special CBI court for cancellation of a non-bailable warrant against him claiming he has reasons to believe that his return to India might endanger his life. In an application filed through his lawyer Sankay Abbott, Choksi told the court that he was “shocked” to watch a debate on a national televisions news channel where two callers phoned in to share their opinion on the fraud. He claimed in the plea that the callers “suggested that a special team be formed to track Mehul Choksi down and shoot him to death since he was brought back to India.”
He claimed that the callers said that such treatment would send out a strong message to society and prevent further cases of frauds and fiscal scams. The fugitive jeweler has also claimed that neither the news anchor concerned nor the panelists objected to the comments made by the caller. Instead, the anchor laughed at the comments and the panelists too “tacitly” agreed with what the callers suggested.
In his application, Choksi said, “From the above two calls made by the callers and the tacit approval given to the same by the news anchor and the panelists, it is clear that the averments made by the applicant (Choksi) in the application filed before this court regarding a threat to his life and the fear of mob lynching is vindicated.” He also sent some audio and video CDs claiming they contain the cited footage from the news channel debate, and urged the court to make his submission a part of the court records and in light of the same, to cancel the NBW issued against him.
After taking cognisance of the second charge sheet filed in the £1.26 billion fraud case by the CBI, the special court had issued the NBW against Choksi on May 22, 2018. Now, the court has directed the CBI to file its reply to the application by October 3, this year. This is the second such application filed by Choksi before the special court, claiming a threat to his life and seeking that the NBW be canceled.
