Congress Targets Govt After Interpol Removes Mehul Choksi's Name From Red Notices List

The criticism comes after Choksi, who is wanted in a Rs 13,000-crore scam in the Punjab National Bank, has been removed from the Interpol database of Red Notices on the basis of his plea

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday hit out at the Centre over diamantaire Mehul Choksi's removal from the Interpol database of Red Notices.

Targeting the Modi-led government, Kharge said fugitives are getting respite while the ED-CBI pursue opposition leaders, reported news agency PTI.  Kharge also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's slogan of "Na khane doonga" has become another "jumla" (rhetoric).

The criticism comes after Choksi, who is wanted in a Rs 13,000-crore scam in the Punjab National Bank, is understood to have been removed from the Interpol database of Red Notices on the basis of his plea to the Lyon-headquartered agency, the report quoted sources as saying. 

 A Red Notice is the highest form of an alert issued by Interpol to law enforcement agencies worldwide, on the basis of his plea.

Choksi’s spokesperson pointed out that the decision of Interpol to delete the Red Notice strengthens the claims of Choksi about his alleged kidnapping during his stay in Antigua.

"ED-CBI for opposition leaders but release from Interpol for 'our Mehul bhai' of Modi ji. When Parliament can be stalled for 'best friend', then how can help for the 'old friend ' be denied who absconded five years ago," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi.

The Congress said while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pursue Opposition leaders with "great vigour", they allow a lifesaver to the wanted diamantaire.

Meanwhile, the cancellation of the Interpol notice against Mehul Choksi will not affect the case and which is already in the advanced stage and action will be taken once Choksi is arrested, reported news agency ANI citing government sources.

 “The cancellation of Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Mehul Choksi will not affect the case which is already in the advanced stage. There is a treaty in place. The moment Choksi will be arrested, the due procedure will be followed and action will be taken appropriately," the sources said according to the agency.