The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi's wife Priti Choksi and others under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the Rs 13,000-crore PNB scam, PTI reported. Mehul Choksi is the prime accused in the PNB scam along with his nephew Nirav Modi.
The ED has charged Priti with "helping her husband in layering of the proceeds of crime". The chargesheet was placed before a special court in Mumbai in March and the court took its cognisance on Monday.
Choksi's three companies -- Gitanjali Gems Ltd, Gili India Ltd and Nakshatra Brand Ltd -- and retired PNB deputy manager (Brady House branch, Mumbai) Gokulnath Shetty have also been named in the chargesheet, PTI reported.
Following the fresh money laundering charges against Priti Choksi, the ED is likely to pursue her extradition from Antigua, where she fled with her husband after acquiring citizenship in 2017. An Interpol arrest warrant can also be issued against her.
The ED alleged that Priti was "hand-in-glove with her husband Mehul Choksi in getting companies incorporated for him for laundering and siphoning of proceeds of crime and utilising and projecting them as untainted", PTI reported.
"She was aware of the source of monies which were being routed/siphoned by her husband illegally and fraudulently. She was abettor of the crime thereby being actually involved in the laundering of proceeds of crime...," the ED alleged.
The agnecy said Priti was the "ultimate beneficial owner" of three UAE-based company called Hillingdon Holdings Ltd, Chating Cross Holdings Ltd and Colindale Holdings Ltd.
Mehul Choksi is now presently staying in Antigua. He had gone missing from that country amid much drama in May last year. He later surfaced in neighbouring Dominica.
Dominica had then caught Choksi on the ground of illegal entry into their country but it recently dropped these charges against him.
(With inputs from PTI)