“Mehul Choksi’s wallet is full…”: PNB scam whistleblower explains why extradition is not easy
Speaking to ANI, Hariprasad explained that Choksi had the resources to postpone the extradition process by hiring top lawyers in Europe. “Extradition is not an easy task,” he said. “Choksi’s wallet is full and he will hire the best lawyers in Europe to avoid a process like Vijay Mallya did. I think it’s easy for India to get him back.”
Hariprasad also recalls how Choksi managed to escape legal action when he was arrested in the Caribbean. He said: “When he was arrested in Antigua (Dominican) and on other islands, he could manage to get out of the situation because he had a group of lawyers. But I hope and hope this time, the Indian government will succeed.”
Hariprasad says hundreds of franchises have been cheated
The whistleblower further said that Joksey had cheated at least 100 franchises in India, with many of the submitted cases in many cities. Hariprasad told ANI: “Even though I got his warrant from the Bangalore police, he was smart enough to escape the law and nothing actually happened.”
He also commented on India’s legal system and the possibility of international extradition. “The legal system in India is undoubtedly excellent, but the extradition process depends on the country we are dealing with. This situation is not easy because he has a lot of money.”
Whistleblower raised an alarm in 2016
Back on July 26, 2016, Bangalore-based entrepreneur Hariprasad wrote to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to warn of potential scams. He pointed out that there were signs of any problems on the balance sheet.
Choksi prepares for legal struggle
According to sources, Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday and local authorities confirmed his presence in the country. The Indian government is now preparing to bring him back.
However, Choksi is reportedly preparing for the legal battle. His defense team plans to apply for bail and oppose extradition. They are expected to use his health as one of the reasons to challenge India’s requirements.
Choksi, 65, fled India on January 2, 2018. He was wanted in a PNB fraud case involving Rs 1385 crore in connection with the CBI and the Enforcement Bureau (ED). In the same case, his nephew Nirav Modi was also charged.
Input from ANI
