Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium on April 11th following a request from Indian authorities. Choksi is a key accused in the ₹13,000 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. The Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate are seeking his extradition to India. Choksi had previously evaded arrest in Antigua and Dominica.
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00:00Big news coming in early this morning.
00:02Mehul Choksi, the fugitive diamond trader, has finally been arrested in Belgium on the request of Indian authorities.
00:08That's the big news.
00:09And remember, we're constantly tracking updates.
00:12A smart businessman, he's been on the run since 2018.
00:15He was already planning to immediately shift to Switzerland from Belgium.
00:20That was while his treatment was on and possibly the next step to evade any arrest.
00:25But by then, Belgian authorities struck, took him in custody on the request, remember,
00:31of the two non-bailable warrants issued against him by the Mumbai court in 2018 and then 2021.
00:37Look at the map, look at the details of his timeline.
00:40Left for Antiga, took the citizenship in Antiga and then also to Dominica where there was a court case
00:46and then came in this visit to Belgium on medical treatment grounds.
00:51However, he has been now nabbed in Belgium.
00:53It's just the beginning, remember, because eventually it will be about deportation or extradition.
00:58India Today's Divyesh Singh joins me this morning.
01:00Divyesh, what a big news.
01:02Focus comes in on to your city because that's primarily where the whole issue had emerged from.
01:07Tell me how this non-bailable warrant from the Mumbai courts led to this arrest.
01:12How will the authorities in Mumbai take this ahead?
01:14Well, these two non-bailable warrants were issued in May 2018 and January 2021 against Mayul Choksi for non-appearance in court
01:25where the trial is going on against him in the PNB multi-croft fraud case.
01:31Well, the total defrauding that was done with PNB was around 13,500 crores, of which Mayul Choksi had defrauded 6,095 crores.
01:42And then he fled from the country.
01:44He took citizens.
01:44He bought citizenship of Antiga and Barbuda and was staying there.
01:50From there, for a meantime, for a small period, he also gone to Dominican Republic where he claimed that he was kidnapped and taken over there.
01:58Dominican Republic did not allow Indian authorities to take over then or deport Mayul Choksi to India.
02:04He went back to Antiga and now for his treatment, he is claiming that he suffers from blood cancer.
02:11And for that, he is seeking treatment at Belgium where Belgium authorities, upon request of Indian authorities, ED and CBI primarily arrested him.
02:21And now, he has been in custody.
02:23Also, we have received input from sources that Mayul Choksi was further planning to shift his base from Belgium to Switzerland for further treatment.
02:32And that is when he was arrested.
02:34What about that, Divyesh?
02:34Why was that?
02:36Why possibly Switzerland if he is already undergoing medical treatment in Mumbai?
02:39Well, it is suspected that Belgium, because he suspected that Belgian authorities might act on the request of Indian authorities and he could be placed under detention or could be placed under arrest.
02:53That is why he was planning to shift to Switzerland.
02:56Belgian authorities, upon the request of Indian authorities, moved swiftly and took him into custody or else he would have moved to Switzerland.
03:04And finally, we hear from authorities that all the preparations or tickets or travel details, travel requirements had already been processed by Mayul Choksi and his team.
03:16And he was almost moving out of Belgium to Switzerland when he was nabbed by the Belgian authorities.
03:23Divyesh, please stay on with me because I have more news coming in on this.
03:27This is without a doubt our big story this morning on The Burning Question.
03:30Choksi, who was arrested by the Belgian authorities on the 12th of April, remember, has been there for medical treatment.
03:37He's been in Belgium, though, for the last six months.
03:40Of course, there was a tip-off.
03:41There was a confirmation that had already come.
03:43It wasn't a surprise that he was seen.
03:45The authorities knew about it, but it took some time to act on Indian request as well.
03:49Sources say that you must know his health is not in the best condition.
03:53And according to our reports, he's suffering from blood cancer.
03:57But remember, it is eventually about the Red Corner Notice, about the details that have come in on the law that he'll have to face.
04:05He's, after all, defrauded the PNB, Bank and India.
04:09I want to immediately bring in my colleague, our National Affairs Editor, Munish Pandey, on this.
04:15But just to give you a background, if you're tuning in right now,
04:17Chokshi's lawyers will most likely apply for bail on health grounds.
04:23Because that is where it becomes crucial.
04:25That is one aspect he may be able to get away with.
04:28He's expected to mention how he was allegedly kidnapped earlier in Antigua and Dominica as well by the Indian agencies.
04:36A claim that his lawyers have been making.
04:39But Indian agencies are hopeful that one bail shouldn't come to him.
04:43This is the one big opportunity they have.
04:45But even if bail has come, at least he would still be forced to live in the European country
04:51and not be allowed to travel back to Antigua.
04:54But remember that while we have been talking about extradition,
04:58because India and Belgium do have an extradition treaty,
05:01but that takes time.
05:02It's a judicial process.
05:03It can take weeks, months, years.
05:05Will India instead try and opt for a deportation route?
05:09That could be perhaps sooner than we would have the extradition.
05:13And in many ways, that would help Indian law work according to how it needs to work,
05:19rather than the extradition treaty conditions,
05:22which can be very specific and strict sometimes.
05:25Remember, it could be challenging for the Indian agencies to get him to India.
05:29Red Corner Notice was removed from the Interpol.
05:32He has the blood cancer, health issues that he'll mention.
05:35Munish, so I take that question to you,
05:38that the lawyers appear to be already going with regard to the medical treatment issue.
05:43But despite that, I understand he may be in a bad condition of health,
05:48but he's defrauded a bank, he's defrauded a country.
05:51That's a big charge.
05:52He needs to face the law.
05:53Of course, Pooja, and that is why when we spoke to our sources within the enforcement directorate,
06:01they did confirm that, you know, the arrest has taken place.
06:05He is there for the treatment of blood cancer.
06:09He is in a bad condition.
06:10But still, both the enforcement directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation,
06:14these agencies are already on their toes.
06:18They are trying to submit as much evidence as they can before the Belgium authorities,
06:23the Belgium court and Belgium police,
06:25so that this time at least he is deported to India as soon as possible.
06:30The Indian agencies also do not want to wait for three, four more years
06:33for the extradition process to go on and for the execution office coming back to India.
06:41But as far as the enforcement directorate is concerned,
06:44sources are saying that they have already given the evidence before the Belgium authorities.
06:50They have submitted the, you know, the evidence as far as the non-billable warrant is concerned.
06:57His role in the 13,000 crore bank scam is concerned.
07:01And also, the most important part is the criminal activity by Mihul Chokshi.
07:07Because, Pooja, remember, this is not only about defrauding or financial fraud.
07:11It is also about the criminal activity.
07:14He has treated not only his customers by giving fake documents and charging 100% of it,
07:19but also he is someone who was also trying to manipulate the witnesses in the case.
07:26Those witnesses were sent from India to countries like Dubai and other countries
07:31on behalf of Mihul Chokshi and that evidence has also been presented before the Belgium authorities
07:36so that they can go through the evidence and the court in Belgium can decide that
07:42Mihul Chokshi is a person who should be sent back to India as soon as possible.
07:46And that is why this is a golden chance for the Indian agencies also
07:51because if he is deported, then he will be here within one month.
07:56That is what we have been given to understand by our sources within the Central Bureau of Investigation
08:01and Enforcement Directed.
08:02As far as Mihul Chokshi is concerned, his best bet is going to be the health ground
08:07and that is why his lawyers, both in India and outside India,
08:11they have already...
08:12Muneesh, a more recent illness that he has been suffering from.
08:15What did we hear in 2018 when he managed to flee?
08:18Because if he can travel from Antigua to Dominica to Belgium,
08:22then planning to go to Switzerland, the Indian agencies will likely say he can travel to India as much?
08:29Yeah, of course.
08:30And indeed he has traveled around the world, three, four countries he has around
08:35and he has taken journeys of more than 10 hours and 12 hours.
08:39And as far as India, Belgium is concerned,
08:42the only thing which the Indian government and Indian agencies have to present
08:46is that even if he is sent to India, he will be given full treatment by the Indian government.
08:51He will be put in a place where his health conditions can improve
08:55and all those measures can be taken by the Indian government.
08:59But the most important part, which Pooja, you are also mentioning,
09:03is that he is a person who has defrauded 13,000 crore of banks in India
09:08and that is why he needs to come back to India and face the law here.
09:12Because it is not only about the banks, it is also about the customers who bought the diamonds
09:18and he cheated, Mehul Chokshi cheated them also.
09:21So it is going to be law versus the health condition of Mehul Chokshi
09:25as far as Benjamin is concerned.
09:27Munish, before I proceed further, a quick background to the viewer watching.
09:32That this is not sudden, this is not a surprise.
09:35This has been a constant work of several years, at least since 2018,
09:38from the Indian agencies and different agencies to ensure that he is nabbed.
09:42Of course, Pooja, and in this case, what we saw that he was defrauding the banks since 2011.
09:51He managed to bribe some of the bank officials, lower-ranking officials in Punjab National Bank.
09:58And in the next 7-8 years, both Mehul Chokshi and Niram Modi, they defrauded 13,000 crore.
10:05Not only they defrauded, but the diamond chain of Mehul Chokshi, for example, Gitanjali's stores,
10:11they were selling fake diamonds.
10:14When the enforcement directorate, you know, they seized the diamonds from the stores of Mehul Chokshi,
10:21they got to know that the original value of that diamond was less than 3% of its actual book value,
10:28which means that if you have bought a diamond of 1 crore rupees, it was merely worth 3 lakh rupees.
10:33So there is a cheating case against him, there is a fraud case against him,
10:38and there is most important criminal case.
10:40Why I am time and again saying this, Pooja?
10:43Because remember, in Niram Modi case, why he was not given bail by the UK court?
10:47Because Indian agencies were able to prove that he criminally conspired,
10:52he manipulated the witnesses,
10:54and he is someone who was able to not only orchestrate this entire scam,
11:01but he was also in a position to, you know, influence the witnesses,
11:04and this became huge in UK courts, and that is why we are seeing that Niram Modi is still in the jail of London from last 4 years.
11:13In Mehul Chokshi case also, apart from the financial fraud,
11:16the Indian agencies will try to bring in this fact that Niram Modi Chokshi criminally conspired,
11:22and that is why he should be sent back to India as soon as possible.
11:25What you are telling us, this whole timeline that has been followed here,
11:29incredible how he has been able to get away and go this far,
11:32but does this mean this is the beginning of his extradition or deportation,
11:36as Munish has been talking about, to India soon?
11:39I request you, Munish, to please stay on with me,
11:41because if you are tuning in right now to India today,
11:44you must know the big story coming in this morning.
11:46The fugitive diamond merchant, Mehul Chokshi,
11:48accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank to 13,000 crore rupees,
11:52has been arrested in Belgium.
11:54Latest voices coming in, let's listen in.
11:56Money, it's only in 2016 only he stashed away at least $2 billion,
12:02so I don't know how much he must have multiplied that.
12:22The first reaction is very good.
12:24We are very happy.
12:25Finally, he has been caught in Belgium, at least.
12:30But what happens in that,
12:32is that how many problems they will be able to get back to him?
12:35We don't know.
12:36The Indian legal system is good,
12:39but dealing with overseas legal system is not going to be easy.
12:44What happens in that,
12:45is that what will get back to him?
12:48Ultimately, we will get back to the money that we have to get back to him.
12:53We will get back to him.
12:55We'll get back to him.
12:56We don't know.
12:57I don't know where he has paid money, but where he has paid money. Of course, Belgium was his main base, so maybe he wouldn't have paid money in Belgium or Swiss bank. Who knows where he is. So, the government of India, besides, the money is very important. What is it? There is no value of his people.
13:15We will try to keep this money in Belgium. How do you see this money?
13:33We will try to keep this money. Why is it so easy?
13:37We will try to keep this money. But how smart it is and how good it is. It depends on how he can go back or not. We hope he will go back.
13:53Sir, a bank bank has got a $13,800.
13:58They all know all the people who are affected. How many people are affected? How many people have been affected?
14:05How many people have been affected by banks? How many people have been affected by this?
14:08How many people have been affected by this?
14:15So, in my opinion, there are hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by the cheating process.
14:23In my opinion, there are hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by the cheating process.
14:27That is a known fact. But I don't know how many people have been affected by the cheating process.
14:34We don't know how many people have been affected by the cheating process.
14:36But there is a common misconception that it has been taken to 12,000 crores.
14:43In my opinion, I have investigated by the cheating process.
14:47In my opinion, it has been taken to 30,000 crores.
14:50I have given the details to all the agents, but there is no work on it.
14:56Sir, last few days, we have seen that the people who have fled from India,
15:00have increased attempts to extradition.
15:02Last few days, the terror accused took place.
15:05Now initiated this process for Mahul Chauksy.
15:08The process of Neera Modi is already running.
15:11So, the agencies' work in the past 2-3 years,
15:14how effective they are doing extradition,
15:17and the fugitive people who have taken to India?
15:21The agencies are doing a good job.
15:23Undoubtedly, the work of Indian agencies have definitely gotten better with our Modi ji government in place.
15:32Things are happening much better, much faster.
15:35But still, even after having Neera Modi in London for so many years, we are not able to get him.
15:41What is the guarantee?
15:43Mahul Chauksy will be lying from Belgium?
15:46There is no guarantee that he has no guarantee.
15:50So, that's the big news, that's the whistleblower we are told,
15:53who is also now giving his response about what he believes happened, what will happen next.
15:59Munish Pandya and Shashank Mattu continue to be with us.
16:02Shashank, I'll take this question to you.
16:04Now, how do you think Indian agencies, Indian government will take diplomatic back-channel talks
16:09to ensure this opportunity is not wasted?
16:13Well, look, I think that India's diplomatic court has always been very active for the last seven years
16:18in trying to get, you know, fugitive businessmen back.
16:20That has been a key concern, you know, whether you talk about Dominica, Antigua,
16:24the United Kingdom, and now Europe.
16:26I think the Indian diplomatic agencies have always been keen to assist domestic crime enforcement agencies
16:32in trying to extradite these fugitive businessmen.
16:35But at this point in time, as has been pointed out in the past,
16:38it is going to be a situation where the legal process will take over now at this point in time.
16:42It will be litigated as to whether this sort of arrest can be made.
16:46But of course, India's agencies there, India does have an extradition treaty with Belgium.
16:51It has worked very closely with European agencies, with crime enforcement agencies like Interpol in the past as well.
16:58So there is an established relationship there.
16:59And India will, of course, through diplomatic back channels, also communicate to the Belgian government
17:03how important it is that these individuals be extradited back to India so that they can face justice.
17:09So that's absolutely a part of India's process, India's diplomatic priorities.
17:13But at this point in time also, what will have to happen in the immediate aftermath of this arrest
17:18that we're hearing about is, as other guests have already pointed out, will be the legal process,
17:23at which point there can be a determination whether Mr. Chokshi can in fact be extradited.
17:28Legal hurdles, you know, can take time.
17:30So I'm sure he has his lawyers already set.
17:33Shashang Mattu from India Today Global, Chetan Bhutani from Business Today Television,
17:37and India Today's National Affairs Bureau editor Munish Pandey also joining me.
17:41So remember all our colleagues on the ground and updating on this big story.
17:45Munish, I come to you on this because you've been talking about how extradition is of course the option
17:51because of the extradition treaty, but the big option that India will want to explore will be deportation.
17:57Why this option of deportation, extradition, do inform the viewer more about that.
18:02Well, Pooja, extradition is a judicial process and it takes time because, first of all, it will go to the lower court
18:12where the Indian agencies will present their case that why this person is important in India and why he should be extradited.
18:19Once the lower court rules in favour of, you know, in favour of India or in favour of Mihul Chokshi, the option for both the parties will be going to the higher court, that is the high court, and later on the Supreme Court.
18:31All this process takes at least three to four years, what we have seen in the case of Vijay Maliya, what we have seen in the case of Nirav Modi or in any other case.
18:40Whereas deportation is a process where you have to make an understanding between both the agencies of both the countries.
18:47For example, here the Nodal agency is going to be the Central Bureau of Investigation on behalf of the Indian government.
18:53And the Belgium government will also depute one of their agencies at the Nodal agencies.
18:59If there is an understanding that this is a person who has committed this fraud, he should be sent back to India as soon as possible, then deportation is a route where he can be sent back to India in a month or so.
19:12But both these process, Pooja, be it the extradition process or be it the deportation process, it depends heavily on the diplomatic relationship between both the countries.
19:24How much Belgium is, you know, cooperative as far as Indian government is concerned with the Indian government, that is going to be of high importance.
19:33And that is why because of his bad health condition, because India don't want to wait for another three, four years, they are first trying for the deportation route.
19:42Diplomatic channels have been opened, the diplomats from India are already talking to the Belgium diplomats and they are trying to find a way where Mihul Chokshi can be sent back to India as soon as possible.
19:57But as far as Mihul Chokshi is concerned, Pooja, as we are talking, he is a smart person.
20:03He has fooled Indian agencies and Indian government from last six, seven years.
20:08He first, just before the FIR was lost, and this is also important, Pooja, why he is not coming back to India, because once he comes back to India, there will be many who will be exposed.
20:18Who is the one who- Exactly.
20:20Mihul Chokshi and Niram Modi that an FIR is going to be lost, because of which just a week before the FIR was lost, they fled from India, they went to US, from US he went to Europe, and then he went to Antigaya from Dominica when he was caught, again he went back to Antigaya.
20:36So there are many- Very important point, Marish you are making. Remember, it's not just about Mihul Chokshi, of course he's the big fraudster.
20:43But who assisted him, who helped him, who abetted in the crime, they also need to be caught, and all of that will only be happening at least once when he's in the custody of Indian authorities.
20:54But after Tahavur Rana's extradition, remember, there's a lot of hope, a lot of expectations that's generated that possibly, Mihul Chokshi can be brought back to India too.
21:03Friends, please stay on with me. How is it endgame, or at least the starting of an endgame, for Mihul Chokshi?
21:09We are talking about an approximately 14,000 crore rupees PNB bank loan fraud case.
21:15Mihul Chokshi and his nephew, another top businessman, Nirav Modi, have been wanted by the Indian authorities for years now.
21:23Chokshi and Nirav Modi duo allegedly defrauded the PNB of 14,000 crore rupees.
21:29They kept taking loans, asking, of course, that they'll be paying it back, but that didn't happen.
21:34Chokshi siphoned off eventually about approximately 13,500 crore rupees over the years.
21:41How did he manage that? Fraudulent letters of undertaking, all sorts of fake documents that were submitted to the bank as well.
21:49When the FIR was about to be lodged against him in 2018,
21:55Mihul Chokshi fled India with Nirav Modi. This happened in January 2018.
22:00And we are talking about approximately over six, seven years later that he's possibly, now that he's arrested, could be brought back as well.
22:09He's a fugitive diamond merchant, owner of the Gitanjali Group, owns about 4,000 retail jewelry firms in India.
22:16And all of that, remember, comes across to not just defrauding the bank.
22:20As our colleagues have been pointing out, did he defraud the customers as well who trusted him with the value of the diamond jewelry they were buying, which possibly were fake?
22:30Chetan Bhutani, our associate editor from Business Today Television joining me.
22:34Chetan, while the case has been from 2018 because that's when he fled, but the modus operandi was before that, from 2011.
22:43Tell us more about that. Let's just jog the memory of our viewer right now watching about what this case truly is about.
22:49Well, Uja, you know, from between 2011 to 2017, the duo, Nirav Modi and Neon Chokshi both started taking letter of credits, letter of understandings and foreign letter of credits.
22:59There are two elements to it. Letter of credits and foreign letter of credits that they both started taking from the PNB branch in Brady House in Mumbai.
23:07Well, these financial instruments were issued without proper collateral or documentation in which they started bribing PNB officials to not register in the books of Ajab National Bank for over the years.
23:17In fact, these LOUs were now then taken abroad. It should be shown to the overseas banks by the duo and of course their team.
23:24And when they got the loans, they cyphered it off for the PNB and instead of giving it to the business, they started cyphering off.
23:31Until 2018, the Punjab National Bank actually did not know about this loophole called the Swift loophole that the CBI in its chart sheet has also mentioned that the Punjab National Bank officials were actually using and exploiting the loophole for the benefit of the duo.
23:46In fact, the CBI and the ED firms also estimated the defraud of about 6,800 crore rupees from the Modi's and Chokshi's to about 6,400 crore rupees.
23:57So clearly, in 2018, when of course the foreign letter of credits and the LOUs letter of credits and the foreign letter of credits were supposed to be renewed and the money wasn't paid back,
24:08the JAR National Bank actually had to go to the CBI to file RFIR and understand what's really happening because it was a clear case of fraud.
24:16And over the years, when the books were examined by the CBI and the relevant auditory authorities, it was found that from 2011 to 2017, they have been exploiting that loophole or swift transaction,
24:27bribing with the PNB bank officials, in fact defrauding a consortium of 28 banks.
24:33In fact, because remember, Punjab National Bank is the most credible bank and the oldest bank.
24:38So if you show that letter of credit or that foreign letter of credit to any bank in India, you will automatically have that credibility.
24:44Take a reference point from what happened with the PNB.
24:48If PNB was giving loans, why can't other banks do it?
24:51Incredible amount of fraud with regard to bank and customers that was done.
24:57Shashank, so I take the final question to you.
24:59Do we see this in many ways, a certain victory to begin with for India, for its diplomatic channels, for its legal paperwork?
25:07And I am also talking about the investigators here, officials on the ground who were tracking consistently from Antigua, Dominica, then now to Belgium, possibly to Switzerland.
25:17All of that to consistently be in touch with the authority, Shashank.
25:22Absolutely. And I have to, you know, build off a point that Munish was making, you know, in terms of how the strength of the diplomatic relationship now
25:28and the quality of Indian diplomats will now really come into play and into the spotlight in the process moving forward.
25:34Because, you know, we've had between the two countries, India and Belgium, a fairly close relationship.
25:38I mean, just last month, you had a member of the Belgian royal family, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defence.
25:45Also in town, in India visiting, they met Prime Minister Modi, they met Foreign Minister Jay Shankar, they met with Defence Minister Rajanath Singh.
25:53So the relationship as such is coming off a high at this point in time.
25:56So we have every reason to expect that there will be a strong diplomatic push from the Indian side to capitalise on that high in the bilateral relationship
26:03to continue to show that Indian diplomacy will be effective both in Antigua, Dominica and all parts of the world to really ensure the return of these fugitive businessmen.
26:11That's a good point you're making, because remember, all of these visits, interactions and the kind of different channels are spread out trying to approach whether it's the court, it's diplomacy, it's backchannel talks, all of that has been put in place.
26:25But friends, it's just the beginning, Mehul Choksi needs to return, he needs to face the law and the money to be returned to the bank.
26:32Thank you very much for now. Chetan Bhutani, Shashang Mattu, Munish Pandey.
26:36Big news coming in, Mehul Choksi has been arrested, a political showdown may possibly interrupt.
26:41The BJP already claiming victory of how the Modi government has been going after these criminals.
26:46What will the opposition say now?
26:48This incident will make you very angry, because this is again an assault on our children, innocent, vulnerable children.
26:54when they're caught off guard by these predators and pedophiles.
26:58In Hubali, in Karnataka, a killer's monstrous act caught on camera.
27:03This man on your screens, look clearly.
27:05He's seen luring and carrying away a little child.
27:08This is a girl child, about five years of age, possibly was alone at the premises.
27:13He lures her with some snacks, picks her up, abducts her.
27:17That is an attempt to rape on the child and then takes her away.
27:22He's kidnapped the girl and we don't know where that location was.
27:25It makes my blood boil when I look at these visuals about the audacity of some of these men to be able to do this to our children.
27:32However, I have an update on this.
27:34The update is that he attempted to rape the child and then strangled her to death.
27:40He killed her.
27:41The body was found by the locals who then protested.
27:44At least thankfully all of this was caught on CCTV for the identity to be made clear.
27:49This assault on the five-year-old that has happened and eventually he murdered the child.
27:55The outrage, the backlash that came in from local residents against the police.
28:00I do believe that he was taken in custody too.
28:04He was identified.
28:06But this just makes you so angry.
28:08We will try and get more clarity on the identity of this man.
28:11But the fact that he was able to get him, get this little child, lure her away.
28:17Who do you trust?
28:19And this looks like a fairly residential locality, a busy locality.
28:26Did nobody notice this random stranger man who takes his time to be able to take this child.
28:33How he picks her up from a relatively safe zone and then takes her away.
28:38We are told he attempted to rape her and then he kidnapped her.
28:45And we have an update.
28:46He is possibly in custody.
28:47I want to immediately bring in my colleague Sagai Raj for the latest on that.
28:51Sagai, there is an expected outrage on the police over this.
28:54Give me more details.
28:55Has he been arrested?
28:57What is happening?
28:58What have the cops done about it?
29:00He has been killed in the encounter, Pooja Shali.
29:02Yesterday when the police tried to arrest him, they tried to attack the police.
29:07The police in retaliation shot on the leg and the other bullet fell on his back.
29:12And subsequently he has succumbed to injuries.
29:15He has been encountered when the police tried to arrest him.
29:20And remember that he has tried to rape this five-year-old girl.
29:25When she started to scream for help, when people started to gather, that's when he started to panic and she strangled her and killed her on the spot.
29:35And he fled from that particular spot.
29:38And immediately police have registered in Apaya.
29:41They started to search for him.
29:42And he was absconding.
29:43They have examined all the CCTV footage.
29:46That's when they got to know that he is an accused.
29:48He is a migrant labourer from Bihar.
29:51And the good part is he has been encountered and killed in this entire arrest operation.
29:58This is, remember, this conclusion will also, while it's debatable, but clearly something as parents watching it will say that these criminals shouldn't be spared either.
30:09Because this incident, when you look at it, to lure a child, he clearly realized there was a young little girl alone, possibly, at that time.
30:17What kind of sentiment is there over this?
30:20What are the cops saying?
30:21What are the people saying, Sagai, about this incident in Hubali?
30:26The people started to gather in large number in front of Hubali police station, Ashwaktagar police station in Hubali.
30:32And they demanded justice.
30:34They demanded that there should be immediate justice to be done in this particular case.
30:38And even in the CCTV footage, you can notice that it is quite shocking that the baby was playing near the swamp hall.
30:44And he carries and kidnaps her to an isolated place where he attempted to rape her.
30:50And when she started to scream for help, he strangulated her to death.
30:54And after that, he was hiding in a place.
30:56Police had a tip-off.
30:57When they tried to reach that particular place, that's when he tried to even attack the police.
31:02He was well aware that the police will reach out to him.
31:04And he tried to attack them.
31:06He pelted stones at them.
31:08And the police had shot on his leg.
31:10And when he tried to retaliate again, that's when they shot on his back.
31:14And they also shifted him to a hospital to give him a further treatment.
31:18But the doctors have declared that he had succumbed to injuries after that particular shoot-off.
31:24He did an encounter after he tried to attack the police is what the cops are saying.
31:28This happened in Hubali.
31:29There was expected outrage over the incident of the girl being lured away, kidnapped, attempted to be raped.
31:36And then, remember, she was killed as well when he failed in his attempt.
31:40This is absolutely, it needs a full-on society intervention.
31:44This man was a migrant labourer, we are told, from Bihar.
31:47He was working in Karnatka in Hubali for a while now.
31:50But look at the audacity of this man.
31:52To be able to do this to a child, thinking he'll get away.
31:56I have news coming in from Bengal.
32:05Bengal is in flames, especially Murshidabad.
32:08In Malda, there are refugee camps being set up.
32:10TMC is being cornered by both the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress as well.
32:14The cornered TMC now blames everyone, but is not taking any accountability.
32:19It's blaming the BJP.
32:21It's blaming that there's deliberate communal tension being escalated by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
32:26But not about the fact that this is the ruling party.
32:28They are in the government.
32:29They have the complete access to the police force, to the administration.
32:33And now the TMC says, listen to this, not just the BJP.
32:37TMC says, centre and the border security force, along with the BJP, are behind the riots.
32:45With the BSF and the BJP indulging in the arson and violence, despite clear visual evidence of the arsonists, of the protestors, of the violent arsonists who are burning down public property.
32:59TMC says, section of the BSF fanned the riots.
33:04BSF remember, border security force, and because it's Bengal, and with border to Bangladesh, there's been a border security force deployment.
33:12BJP stoking violence in Bengal.
33:14Let's listen in.
33:16There is a need of proper investigation, because the local people, they are not finding any known face who are the masterminds.
33:28There is an allegation, that with the help of BSF, there is a deep-rooted conspiracy here, to malign West Bengal, to create some scenes in those areas, so that BJP and opposition can use those scenes as their political platform.
33:49There were full-on tensions in Bengal, Murshidabad, over the weekend. There was arson, violence, public property was burned down. There were houses and shops that were gutted as well. People had to flee for their lives.
34:03According to eyewitnesses right now, approximately 500 residents at least have fled Murshidabad, and there are refugee camps in Malda, where also there was violence reported.
34:12Some of the survivors are saying that Hindu community houses and shops were specifically targeted and burned down by the rioters and arsonists, predominantly from the Muslim community.
34:22Local authorities and border security forces have been attempting to restore calm, but the situation is still tense. Look at the visuals of the women in complete tears and shock at the refugee camps.
34:33They are at a school in Malda, which has been turned into a refugee camp. But uncertain future, and still the concern about their looted house, looted shops and livelihood gone for what?
34:44Over an anti-Vakf bill protest that clearly turned into full-on arson and violence.
34:50BJP has jumped in on this. They are going to protest against Bengal government today. Some of the BJP leaders are even demanding AFSPA imposition in four Bengal districts.
34:58They are claiming it's been a pattern of the TMC to attack Hindus. On 16th April, in the next two days, BJP will also honour the two deceased men from the Hindu community who were reportedly allegedly killed and targeted deliberately for their faith.
35:13They are going to call it the Hindu Shaheed Divas.
35:16TMC has called for peace, but they are blaming the BJP. They are saying BJP brought a law that inflamed passions and caused the riot. The TMC claims BJP is inciting riots.
35:29It is going to be a no-nonsense battle against the vandals and criminals. Nobody, I repeat, nobody will be allowed to take law in their hands. In this fight against violence and injustice, the courts, the government, all well-meaning members of society are strongly united to put an end to these criminals with an iron hand.
35:56But remember, political showdown is also now escalating on this. The Bharatiya Janata Party is criticising TMC MP Yusuf Pathan for, at a time like this, instead posting and putting pictures of himself sipping chai on social media platforms, while his constituency in Bengal is grappling with violence.
36:24He is the member of parliament, especially from Murshidabad. BJP claims that TMC is anti-Hindu. It just has different priorities. It doesn't care about people on the ground.
36:32They are demanding President's rule, asking for Mamata Banerjee's resignation. But on the sidelines of this, Bengal police have put out a statement.
36:39They are saying BJP has been sharing certain posters and pictures, like this one, about the violence. And these images are fake. That these tales are from different states and are being pasted as Bengal.
36:51TMC has also slammed BJP Bengal units, saying BJP is spreading fake news and that they are trying to destroy the peace in Bengal and spreading hate-mongering and conspiracy.
37:01But the BJP claiming all of these tales posted by the BJP are from Bengal. They are all from official sources and that Mamata's government is just trying to distract people now.
37:11But it's also now what happens on the ground. Is there an anti-Vakhf Bill sentiment that is spreading among the areas in Bengal, even among opposition parties?
37:22Because Jharkhand government, after Bengal has announced, they will not implement the Wakf law in the state.
37:27TVK in the southern state of Tamil Nadu has filed a plea in the Supreme Court against the Wakf Bill.
37:32TVK in the US of Uganda.
37:38TVK in the U.S.
37:54How can you get a good opportunity to get a good opportunity?
38:24B.J.P. can do something in the time of B.J.P.
38:29In Bengal, they have to destroy the government of B.J.P.
38:35The government of B.J.P. has changed the law and order to maintain the law and order.
38:42The government of B.J.P. has changed the law and order to maintain the law and order.
38:49The court has said to her, for putting the central force.
38:55Now let us see what happens.
38:58Ms. Mahmata Banerjee and her party, the Trinomal Congress, they are whole souls responsible for this situation.
39:08This is the divisive politics of Mahmata Ji.
39:13The government of B.J.P.
39:21The government of B.J.P.
39:23The government of B.J.P.
39:33The government of B.J.P.
39:43C.P.
39:54G.P.
39:56C.P.
40:03but here's what congress mp imran masood had to say that if they come to power what will they do
40:20about the vakf bill it generated a controversy here's then what he said in clarification listen
40:26into both the comments
40:56so remember for bengal now the focus comes in after murshidabad to malda because malda where
41:11there was violence but now situation relatively normal but refugee camps have been set up
41:16especially for those who have to flee from murshidabad bjp has jumped in on this indrajeet kundu is on the
41:23ground he's speaking to the bjp leaders protesting there over to you indrajeet
41:27or malda me murshidabad se aye huye palayan kiye huye joh hindu pariwaar is vakt relief shelter me
41:34yaha pe din guzara kar hai unse mulaqat karne ki košish shukantoda karenge shukantaji aap
41:42pahunj kae hai malda murshidabad me jis tari ka communal violence dekne ko mila hai unhi ke
41:48joh victim se unse aap milenge ke kya aap murshidabad bhi jane ki košish karenge
41:52košish karenge dekhe murshidabad aap jantai hai ke waha pe upadru tila ka hai toh is liye
41:57waha pe jakar mein aise hi polis samal nahi pa rahi hai polis ki ahalat bhaeng kar hai
42:03hum jayenge toh or bhi samal nahi pa raienge is liye mein waha pe jake joh shanti prayas
42:10ho raya hai us me baadha pere aisa humari manisha nahi hai isliya maalda me rahe ke
42:16yaha se puri din monitoring karenge kya chal raha hai bhi sif ko thiik tariqe se
42:20ho log deployment kar raha hai ke nahi kar raha hai sara report yaha se bana ke jaha
42:26pere đalna hai jaha pere bhejna hai hoa bhejhenge home ministry monitoring office bhi
42:30hap nne bana hai maalda mne bjp ki karayala mne monitoring office bhi hap nne bana hai
42:34hap nambar ham sarwajanik kar chukke hai humare karaykar tak ke dhara abhi openly hum sarwajanik
42:40karenge aur waha pe murshidabad me jaha se ay sab chal raha hai jaha pere dhanga chal raha
42:45hai jaha pere hindu'o ke gharo pere hamla chal raha hai waha pe agar aisi ghatna ghatati
42:51hai toh us nambar pe o log haa phone kar sakta hai phone karke bata sakta hai waha
42:56pere central forces bhejheni ki zimadari hai hap ki party ke aur se shubindu adhikari
43:02woh kolkata high court gahe thay aur uske baad high court nne bhi ye rai dhi dhya
43:07kye central force ki tainati honi chahiye kya aapko lagta hai pashim mangal
43:11sarkar ko usse pahli central force ki joh help hai jisahata hai wohu lena
43:15chahiye tha haa lena chahiye tha unko jarruur lena chahiye tha unko jiasse tipura
43:19nne liya hai na tipura mein toh bjp ke sarkar hai chaar district asib muslim
43:23bhout kama percentage hai leki ni chaar districto mein tipura ke cm saab ko laga
43:29ke jadha kuch ho sakti hai toh nne central forces dhe li hai kyunke agar kabhi kabhi
43:35kabhi police mein kya hoota hai police rahul rahul dabir jasa batting kerti hai toh
43:40one run ek run ek run 2 run 4 run kabhi kabhi hoota hai toh kabhi kabhi
43:44aasi stitiya a jati is log over me jab dhoni jasi batting karne ki
43:48zarurat hoti hai toh dhoni jasi batting karne ki liya aapko central forces
43:51chae hai
43:52police ka role kaisa tha kyunke hum khud gaya thay
43:54aur bhout sari pariwaro se hum hum bhi mil hai
43:56unka yye kaya na tha kye jab us tari ka upadrav ho raha tha
43:59aur distress call police ko lagai jara raha thi
44:02lékin police ke urse kisii bhi tari ka koi reaction nahi tha
44:04aur maynne khud dhikha sabshir ganj mein police station se 500 meter ke
44:09dure mein yeh sab ghatna hua hai lékin police unke paas nahi
44:12aya unki properties ko nukstan pauchat
44:14nini police ki bhoomi ka har jaga pe aise hi hai
44:19mayn aapko bholta hoon aap eek analysis karijay
44:22last inhaa pe joh hua
44:24aap chalye jayye salaf
44:26aur baki jaga pe
44:27haura grameen ilaqa joh hai
44:32wahan pe
44:33lagbaag eek dira saal pehle
44:35nuput sharma ke case lekar
44:36dhanga hua tha
44:38riot hua tha
44:39uske baad
44:41baki jaga pe jahaan pe dhanga hua
44:42police ka standard protocol hai
44:44kuch aeshi ghatna ghatne ke baad
44:46police musulmano ko allow karthi hai
44:49paat 6 ghatte 8 ghatte tang
44:51ki hindu ke ghar torpore karni ke
44:53har jaga pe same hai
44:54ab dhekhiye
44:55abe analysis karke dhekhi
44:56ee mamta benerji ki dhigui hai
44:58dhigayi instruction hai
45:00police ho follow karthi hai
45:02dubhir arop laga raha raha
45:03aapke police ko passive
45:04rhenne ke liye kaha gya tha
45:05mamta benerji kya ursi
45:06har samayi
45:07bola agar nahi jata
45:08to police har samayi passive
45:10kuyo rheti
45:10aap haura salaf bala
45:12dhek lije
45:12oha pere
45:13overpower kar dhya gya
45:14ta itna bheer
45:15yaan pe
45:15nini nini
45:17bheer
45:18police
45:1810 gholi chalayegi
45:205 body
45:21giregi
45:21aise bhaag jayenge
45:22sare
45:22dhiji kahe raha
45:24woh trigger happy
45:24police nem
45:25ni