PNB Scam: Fugitive Diamantaire Mehul Choksi Missing In Antigua, Manhunt Launched

Fugitive businessman took citizenship of the Caribbean island nation was last seen driving in the southern area of the island on Sunday even as vehicle was traced later but there was no sign of Choksi.

PNB Fraud: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India for his role in state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, is said to have been missing in Antigua and Barbuda, as per his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal.

The police has launched a manhunt to trace the businessman since Sunday, local media outlets reported.  Aggarwal revelaed that Choksi's family members were worried and anxious, and they had called him to discuss.

"The Antigua Police is investigating the matter. Family is in the dark and worried about his safety," the lawyer informed the news agency.

Choksi is being investigated by the CBI and ED for his role in multi-crore PNB fraud. As per the PTI report, local reports in Antigua has quoted the police on launching investigation into his disappearance.

"Antiguanewsroom", a local media outlet, quoted Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney on Tuesday that the police are "following up on the whereabouts of Indian businessman Mehul Choksi", who is "rumoured" to be missing.

As per the local reports, Choksi who had flee the country took citizenship of the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, was last seen driving in the southern area of the island on Sunday. However, his vehicle was traced later but there was no sign of Choksi.

Earlier, Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne had said that the citizenship of Mehul Choksi would be revoked and he will be extradited to India once all his legal options Mehul Choksi is the owner of a retail jewellery company, Gitanjali Group. An arrest warrant for Choksi has been issued in connection with the alleged PNB fraud case.were exhausted.

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused for allegedly siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from PNB, using letters of undertaking.

While Modi, who is currently in a London prison after repeated denial of bail, is contesting extradition to India, Choksi had acquired the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme, before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. Soon after the scam came to the fore and both are facing a CBI probe.