Interpol’s red corner notice against Choksi in PNB fraud

New Delhi, December 13 

Interpol has issued a red corner notice against absconding billionaire Mehul Choksi, who is accused of cheating state-run Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 13,000 crore in alleged collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi, officials said on Thursday.

The international police cooperation agency issued the notice against Choksi on Wednesday on the request of the CBI, rejecting his contentions of being persecuted by Indian agencies and the case being political in nature, they said. A red corner notice is a kind of international arrest warrant where Lyon-based Interpol asks its member countries to arrest or detain a fugitive, wanted by another member country, if he is detected in their respective jurisdictions.

Choksi, 59, managing director of Gitanjali Gems Ltd, who escaped in January this year along with his nephew Nirav, his wife Ami Modi and brother Nishal Modi, has taken Antigua citizenship. “The Interpol has issued a red corner notice against Mehul Choksi on the request of the CBI,” CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said.

Choksi had challenged the CBI application seeking issuance of the notice against him calling the case a result of political conspiracy, sources said. He also raised questions on issues such as jail conditions in India, his personal safety and health, they said. The matter went to a five-member Interpol committee’s court, which cleared the notice rejecting his contentions. — TNS/PTI

Biggest bank scam

• CBI alleged Mehul Choksi swindled Rs 7,080.86 cr, making it country’s biggest banking scam at over Rs 13,000 cr
• Rs 5,000-cr additional loan to Choksi’s companies is also a matter of probe 
• His nephew Nirav allegedly siphoned Rs 6,000 cr