CBI in active communication with INTERPOL after removal of Mehul Choksi's Red Notice
New Delhi, March 21: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said on Tuesday that it is still in contact with the Commission for Control of INTERPOL's Files (CCF) and other INTERPOL bodies after the removal of the Red Corner Notice against Mehul Choksi.
The withdrawal of the Red Corner Notice implies that Mehul Choksi is no longer wanted by INTERPOL. The global police body's revocation of the Red Corner Notice against Choksi has no influence on the Punjab National Bank scam case, which is already in an advanced stage.
Notably, Red Corner Notices are issued against fugitives and are considered as a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to find and temporarily arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or related legal action.
The 63-year-old diamantaire is wanted in India in relation to a Rs 13,000-crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB).
The CBI stated in its statement that it remains committed to bringing fugitives and offenders back to India to face criminal justice.
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"Systematic steps have been initiated in close coordination with foreign law enforcement agencies for geo-locating and return of wanted criminals and economic offenders. In the last 15 months, over 30 wanted criminals have returned to India," the agency stated.
The CBI stated that on February 15, 2018, a case was brought against Mehul Choksi and others for defrauding Punjab National Bank.
"CBI has already filed two charge sheets in the case against wanted criminal Mehul Choksi and others under sections 120-B r/w 409, 420, 477A, 201 of IPC and section 7 and 13(2) r/w 13(1)(c)&(d) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988."
Following that, in 2022, the CBI filed five further criminal cases against Mehul Choksi and others for defrauding banks and financial institutions.
In February 2018, the CBI, as the National Central Bureau for INTERPOL, issued a diffusion to locate fugitive Mehul Chinubhai Choksi. CBI traced the criminal's travels in close direct contact with foreign law enforcement authorities, and he was geo-located to Antigua and Barbuda. According to the announcement, an extradition request was sent to Antigua and Barbuda's competent authorities through diplomatic channels in August 2018.
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- ANI
