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The Enforcement Directorate has offered to provide an air ambulance and a team of medical experts to bring back fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, a key accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, from Antigua and provide him with all necessary treatment in India.
In a counter affidavit submitted before the high court, the Enforcement Directorate has termed the affidavit submitted earlier this week by Choksi as a “facade” in which the fugitive has claimed that he is unable to return to India due to persistent health problems.
“The medical reasons and conditions appear to be facades being erected to mislead the court in an obvious attempt to delay the lawful proceedings. We are ready to provide an expert medical team along with an air ambulance to bring him from Antigua to India under medical supervision,” the probe agency said in its counter affidavit.
The central agency further said that Mehul Choksi has never cooperated in the investigation into the Rs. 13,000 crore Punjab and National Bank scam.
The agency also informed that Mr Choksi claims that his assets worth Rs. 6,129 crore have been seized, it is wrong because during probe Enforcement Directorate has attached assets worth Rs. 2,100 crore assets. The Enforcement Directorate also maintained that Mr Choksi was trying to sell all his assets before fleeing from India.
“He (Mehul Choksi) never co-operated in the investigation. A non-bailable warrant was issued against him. A Red Notice was issued by the Interpol. He has refused to return, he is, therefore, a fugitive and an absconder,” the probe agency said.
The law enforcement agency in its rejoinder has said that Choksi was given several opportunities to join the probe but he evaded questioning.
This development in the case came after Mehul Choksi had submitted an affidavit in the Bombay high court stating that he is living in Antigua and was willing to co-operate in the investigation into the scam.
