The arrest of Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi in Belgium on April 12 marks a significant victory for Indian investigating agencies. However, the job is far from over. The ultimate goal is to have him extradited to India, where he must stand trial for the massive financial fraud he committed along with his nephew Nirav Modi. Together, the duo defrauded the Punjab National Bank of a staggering Rs 13,000 crore—an amount that not only shocked the financial sector but also shook the public’s trust in the banking system. It is true that he abandoned his Indian citizenship to acquire citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda, a small Caribbean nation. But this move was clearly a calculated attempt to avoid arrest and enjoy the comforts of exile, funded by the wealth he illicitly amassed. That he bought this citizenship with a mere fraction of the stolen funds only highlights the brazenness of his actions. The argument that he is now a “foreign national” and beyond India’s legal reach holds no moral ground. The crimes were committed on Indian soil, and justice must be served here.
Choksi’s efforts to dodge extradition have been elaborate and, at times, laughable. From shifting base to Dominica under mysterious circumstances to spinning tales of being kidnapped by Indian agents, he has tried every trick in the book to portray himself as a victim. He has even claimed that he won’t get a fair trial in India. But such arguments don’t hold water. If Ajmal Kasab, a Pakistani terrorist caught red-handed during the 2008 Mumbai attacks, was given a fair trial in India with full legal representation, then Choksi, armed with a team of high-profile lawyers and deep pockets, certainly cannot complain of bias.
Belgium, known for its strong stance on human rights, must remember that shielding a fugitive who has looted a developing country’s public funds is not an act of justice. It is, instead, a mockery of justice. India has the moral and legal right to demand Choksi’s return. India must also renew its efforts to bring back Nirav Modi, who faces not only the PNB scam charges but other financial crime cases as well. The recent successful extradition from the US of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, involved in the Mumbai terror attacks, shows what determined diplomacy and legal consistency can achieve. That operation was made possible by the no-nonsense approach of the US government. An unfinished task is to have David Headley, an American of Pakistani origin, who also played a leading role in the 26/11 terror attack, brought to India. Let these extraditions send a clear message: fleeing the country doesn’t mean fleeing justice.
