Diamantaire Mehul Choksi, accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, is a "fugitive and absconder", the Enforcement Directorate told the Bombay High Court. The agency, in its affidavit, sought dismissal of two petitions filed by Choksi - one against a plea for him to be declared a fugitive economic offender and the second to permit him to cross-examine those persons on whose statements the ED is relying on to declare Choksi a fugitive economic offender.
The ED, in its affidavit submitted to a division bench headed by Justice I A Mahanty, said Choksi is accused of siphoning and laundering money to the tune of £609.7 million in the PNB scam, and despite having issued summons directing him to appear before the agency, he has said he does not intend to cooperate with the probe.
"He is a fugitive and absconder. He has deliberately and intentionally evaded from appearing before the investigating agency even after a special court has issued non-bailable warrants against him. This shows that he does not have any regard for the law of the land," the affidavit said.
"It is apparent that the applicant (Choksi) has left India to avoid criminal prosecution for the offence of money laundering under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and continues to refuse to return to India to face criminal prosecution," it said. It added that Choksi has already taken citizenship of Antigua which clearly shows that he has no intention of returning to India to cooperate with the probe.
The agency further said that under the Fugitive Economic Offender Act, if the fugitive appears in person before the court then the proceedings can be terminated. However, it said, if the person fails to do so the court can declare him a fugitive economic offender and can confiscate his properties. "The sole purpose of the Act is to compel the fugitive to return to India and face the proceedings initiated against him," the affidavit said.
The Act was introduced as an effective, expeditious and constitutional way to stop offenders from running away, it added. The high court will take up the petitions for hearing later. Choksi, in his plea, claimed he was unable to return to India due to persistent health problems. To this, the ED said it was merely a facade and that Choksi can seek treatment for his health problems in India.
Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted by the ED and the CBI for allegedly defrauding the PNB to the tune of £1.34 billion, in collusion with a few of its employees.
