Poor health, no passport, can’t return: Choksi to CBI

Like Nirav Modi, Gitanjali group owner Mehul Choksi has also made it clear to the CBI that he is not going to return to India to join the probe in the Rs 12,700-crore PNB loan fraud.

Choksi wrote to the CBI on the day the probe agency once again asked him and Nirav to join the investigation. In its emails to the Choksi and Nirav, the CBI asked them to disclose their locations. The letter came  hours after Choksi said it is “impossible” for him to

return to India due to health reasons and suspension of his passport.

CBI officials said that both Nirav and Choksi have been repeatedly asked to disclose their locations but they haven’t disclosed those yet. The agency had sent three summonses on February 19, 23 and 28 asking them to join the probe at the earliest.

CBI officials said that their replies were extraneous. “It is legally binding on an accused to join the probe. We have asked them to go to nearest Indian High Commission or Embassy. We will be replying to their mails,” CBI said.

Earlier, in a detailed e-mail reply to the CBI’s notice seeking his appearance, Choksi said he was not in a position to travel as his passport has been suspended by the authorities and he was undergoing medical treatment.

“I want to assure your good office and good self that I am in no manner dictating the terms of my appearance. However, as my passport stands suspended by the Regional Passport Office under Section 10(3)(c) of the Passport Act, it is impossible for me to travel back to India,” the seven page letter said.

The accused diamond trader explained that he is not in a position to travel for at least a period of four to six months due to persisting health problems. “I had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February, and there is still pending work to be done on the same,” said the relative of celebrated jeweller Nirav Modi the prime accused in the PNB case.

Choksi further said that he is worried about his health and fears that he will not get proper treatment if he gets arrested. He also fears that he might not be allowed to undergo treatment in a private hospital.