Cannot travel 41 hours to reach India: Mehul Choksi

Mehul Choksi has said he cannot travel 41 hours to reach India. He has however said he would be willing to be questioned over video call. 

Choksi is one of the prime accused, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank scam. Choksi is currently in Antigua. 

Choksi submitted his answer to a Bombay court where a case has been filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate. 

Choksi cited his poor health and inability to travel long hours for not being able to come to India for investigations. 

He also accused the ED of misleading the court by deliberately not revealing his health condition. Choksi added that he is in constant touch with the banks and wishes to settle his dues. 

The Interpol had on December 13 a issued a red corner notice (RCN) against Mehul Choksi.

An RCN issued by Interpol works like an international arrest warrant. The notice was issued at the request of India's CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation).

Mehul Choksi who owns Gitanjali Gems is under investigation for his role in the PNB scam along with his nephew Nirav Modi. The CBI had earlier arrested the vice-president of Gitanjali group Vipul Chitalia.

Choksi had reportedly taken Antiguan citizenship last year and moved to the Caribbean country in July this year after leaving India. He had said in a statement that he had moved to Antigua and Barbuda under the Citizenship by Investment program.

A similar Interpol notice was issued to Nirav Modi and his executive Mihir R Bhansali in September.

Punjab National Bank, the country'a second-largest state-run bank, said earlier in 2018 that two jewellery groups headed by Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi had defrauded it of about $2.2 billion by raising credit from overseas branches of other Indian banks using illegal guarantees issued by rogue PNB staff at a Mumbai branch over several years.