Mumbai: As news of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s arrest in Belgium makes headlines, the original whistle-blower in the Punjab National Bank scam, Hariprasad SV, has voiced concerns over the possibility of bringing Choksi back to India. Hariprasad, who first alerted authorities to irregularities years before the scandal broke, believes India faces a long legal battle ahead.
Speaking to news agency Hariprasad stated, “Extradition is not an easy task. Choksi’s wallet is full, and he will employ the best lawyers in Europe to avoid the process, like what Vijay Mallya has been doing. I don’t think it is going to be easy for India to get him back.”
He recalled how Choksi managed to evade extradition in 2021 when he was briefly detained in Dominica under mysterious circumstances. The businessman had claimed he was abducted from Antigua, where he had taken citizenship through the country’s investment program.
Hariprasad further revealed that Choksi’s fraudulent activities affected numerous Indian businesses. “At least 100 franchises were cheated by Choksi, and most of them filed cases in different cities across India,” he said.
It was on July 26, 2016, that Bengaluru-based entrepreneur Hariprasad had written to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), warning of potential fraud involving Punjab National Bank. He flagged discrepancies in Gitanjali Group’s balance sheets and raised alarm over what he saw as red flags.
Now, with Choksi’s arrest in Belgium, Indian authorities have renewed hope of finally bringing him to justice. However, his legal team has indicated that he will strongly oppose extradition, citing health concerns among other legal arguments.
The 65-year-old, wanted by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), is accused of defrauding PNB of ₹13,850 crore. He, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, orchestrated one of the largest financial frauds in India’s history, allegedly using fake Letters of Undertaking to obtain massive loans from overseas banks.
