Court Rejects Mehul Choksi's Plea for Passport Suspension Records

A special court has rejected Mehul Choksi's request for passport suspension records but allowed access to investigation files needed to determine if he should be declared a Fugitive Economic Offender. Choksi, implicated in a multi-million dollar scam, claims his passport was suspended due to a 'security threat to India.'

A special court here on Wednesday denied absconding diamond businessman Mehul Choksi's request for records related to the suspension of his passport from the regional passport office.

Mehul Choksi, accused in the Punjab National Bank multi-million dollar scam, claimed he cannot return to India because his passport is suspended over a 'security threat to India.'

The special judge for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, S M Menjoge, has however allowed Choksi's plea for copies of investigation files relevant to deciding whether there are sufficient grounds to declare him a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO).

The Enforcement Directorate has petitioned the court to declare Choksi a fugitive economic offender. Choksi's application, filed through advocate Vijay Agarwal, argued that examining these documents is necessary for fair adjudication.

Under the Fugitive Economic Offender Act, 2018, individuals with a warrant against them related to a scheduled offence who have left India to evade prosecution (or refuse to return) can be declared FEOs.

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted by the ED and CBI for allegedly defrauding PNB of Rs 13,400 crore in collaboration with some of its employees. Choksi contends he neither left India to avoid prosecution nor refuses to return, claiming reasons beyond his control prevent his return.

(With inputs from agencies.)