Absconding diamond jeweller and PNB Scam accused Mehul Choksi, who is at present based in the Caribbean nation of Antigua, has said that the charges being levelled against him in relation with the PNB scam are baseless.
The fugitive billionaire defended himself by saying that the allegations made by the Enforcement Directorate against him are false and baseless in a video statement. The video statement comes as the first by the businessman ever since he has been wanted in India for Rs 13,000 crore bank fraud.
#WATCH Antigua: PNB Scam accused Mehul Choksi says, "all the allegations leveled by ED are false and baseless." pic.twitter.com/hkanruj9wl
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2018
Talking about his passport being revoked by the Indian government, Choksi said that the revocation has rendered him immobile and he can't surrender his passport since it has already been revoked.
Choksi also said that the attachment of his assets was illegal. "All the allegations levelled by the EDI are false and baseless. They have attached my properties illegally without being any basis," Choksi said in the video.
#WATCH PNB Scam accused Mehul Choksi on his passport revocation. Please note: ANI questions were asked by Mehul Choksi's lawyer in Antigua. pic.twitter.com/dwuPnOPaxd
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2018
This is the first stament by Choksi after he was named in the case. In November, he was granted citizenship of Antigua and he left India in the first week of January. He took an oath of allegiance as a citizen of Antigua on January 15.
The CBI had filed a case on January 29 and began its investigations into the PNB fraud case involving Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi over Rs 13,500 crore frauds.
