Belgian authorities on Monday announced that they have arrested India's fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, who is one of the prime accused in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank scam.
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00:01Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Chokshi has been arrested.
00:05Last week, India managed to get 2611 terrorist Tahabur Rana extradited from the United States.
00:12Can we now get this economic offender?
00:15We look at the details and the case file right here.
00:23Fugitive Chokshi arrested.
00:25Looted 13,000 crore and escaped.
00:36Fled India in 2018.
00:41Now finally caught.
00:46India seeks deportation.
00:48Can Chokshi be extradited?
00:55Big focus on Newstrak.
00:57We have a power pack show lined up tonight, including an exclusive breaking interview with the doctor who reviewed the Chokshi files in Belgium.
01:08All that and more coming up on the Newstrak.
01:10Here are the headlines.
01:11I'm tracking this evening.
01:13Bengal's Murshidabad tense after violent anti-wakf law protest.
01:18Police find PFI link in the violence.
01:21Mamata Banerjee says, don't play unholy games with religion.
01:25PM Modi's big waqf law defense says land was looted in the name of waqf.
01:34PM slams the opposition, says Congress spreads vote bank virus over the issue.
01:40Domesticulla on a new property.
01:43Proverty say the poor.
01:45Beesahara.
01:46Mahila.
01:47But Choka.
01:48After.
01:49You have to.
01:50Phaonaona.
01:51But Chaiya.
01:52This.
01:53The.
01:54And Imaga.
01:55Now the.
01:56Political war over the Karnataka Caste Survey.
02:08Prime Minister Modi attacks the Congress government for its proposal to hike Muslim quota from 4 to 8,
02:14accuses Congress of snatching the rights of OBCs.
02:20Salman Khan gets a fresh death threat.
02:23An unidentified person claims that he will plant a bomb in the actor's vehicle.
02:27Mumbai police register a case.
02:33Blue Origins' all-women crew comes back successfully from the edge of space.
02:38Lady Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Guile King and three others experience weightlessness.
02:44Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi wanted in the 13,000 crore PNB scam has been arrested.
02:55He was held in Belgium where he had reportedly been undergoing medical treatment.
02:59He is being held at a detention center in Belgium and his health condition is set to be deteriorating.
03:05Indian authorities are now working to get him back to face trial.
03:08Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi arrested in Belgium.
03:17The 65-year-old accused in the 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank scam was arrested on Saturday.
03:27He was reportedly undergoing treatment at the time of his arrest.
03:31Sources indicate his health is in poor condition and that he is currently being treated for blood cancer.
03:40Choksi's arrest came at the request of Indian agencies, including the CBI and ED,
03:45which had secured non-bailable warrants against him from Mumbai courts.
03:50Choksi had fled India in 2018 and had been living in Antigua and Barbuda before recently relocating to Belgium.
04:00All I can say is that he has been arrested and it's a client or any privileged communication.
04:07Other details I will not be able to give you.
04:09But this I can confirm that yes, my client has been arrested.
04:12He is in prison at the moment and the legal remedy that we have is that we'll be filing an appeal
04:16and there we'll be making a request that he should be released and he should be permitted to contest his case without being in custody.
04:26Choksi's extradition from Belgium to India, however, could prove difficult.
04:33Mahal Choksi, his wallet is strong and he knows how to find the best of lawyers in the world.
04:42He will obviously fight tooth and nail to escape his extradition like what other people have done in London
04:50and the Indian government is unable to get them back still now.
04:54So, same thing could happen in Belgium also.
04:57What is the guarantee that he will be brought back?
05:00He has a fleet of lawyers, a wallet full of money.
05:04Indian authorities are actively making efforts to get Mahal Choksi deported.
05:09Though India and Belgium have a mutual extradition treaty.
05:12Sources revealed that Choksi has not renounced either his Indian or Antiguan citizenship.
05:37Instead, he applied for an F-type residency card from Belgian authorities, which he successfully obtained.
05:45This is not the first time Choksi has been detained.
05:48In May 2021, he was held in Dominica for illegal entry.
05:53The CBI's efforts to get Choksi back suffered a setback after a court allowed him to return to Antigua for medical treatment.
06:00Subsequently, the Interpol red corner notice against him was withdrawn following his appeal.
06:08Bureau report, India Today.
06:10Mahal Choksi is accused of being a key player in the 13,000 crore rupee Punjab National Bank fraud case,
06:19which is one of the biggest banking scam in India's history.
06:23The scam involved Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi.
06:26Together, they were able to take loans from foreign banks without following normal procedures.
06:31Here's how the scam was uncovered.
06:33It is the second big coup for Indian law enforcement authorities in one week.
06:46Just days after 2611 accused, Tahavud Rana was extradited to India.
06:52The Belgian police have arrested fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi.
06:55Choksi is one of the prime accused in the 13,000 crore rupees PNB fraud scam and is in Antwerp for medical treatment.
07:06The arrest in Belgium was made after the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate reactivated extradition requests,
07:13despite the removal of an Interpol red notice against Choksi.
07:17As the founder and MD of Gitanjali Gems, the former billionaire allegedly engineered a fraud over many years,
07:23which involved his nephew Nirav Modi, currently in a London prison.
07:29The two used fake letters of undertakings and foreign letters of credit at PNB's Brady House branch in the Fort area of Mumbai.
07:37This was done in collusion with rogue employees of the branch.
07:41The financial documents were used to raise credit from overseas banks.
07:46Along with Nirav Modi, guarantees worth 11,400 crore rupees were raised to get loans.
07:51The funding, instead of being used for importing goods like pearls as claimed, were allegedly diverted and laundered.
07:59According to reports, the SWIFT network, used across the world for online transfers,
08:04was gamed by officials to keep the bank in the dark.
08:08However, the 65-year-old businessman has remained a step ahead of the law.
08:12He purchased citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017, a year before the scam came to light.
08:21The West Indian Islands do not have an extradition treaty with India.
08:25He fled the country on 2 January 2018, just days before the scam broke.
08:30In 2021, Choksi was arrested in Dominica, allegedly while attempting to flee to Cuba by boat.
08:36Authorities deported him back to Antigua, though rejecting India's extradition demands.
08:43In March 2023, India suffered yet another blow with the Interpol revoking the notice issued against Choksi.
08:50In 2024, Choksi moved to the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp, in Belgium.
08:55This was for the treatment of his blood cancer.
08:59He later secured permanent residency of Belgium.
09:01That did not stop Indian authorities from seeking his extradition again,
09:06in an appeal which was heeded by the Belgian authorities and led to detaining him.
09:12Meanwhile, reports say that Choksi's bail application hearing will take place at least after one week,
09:17which gives India crucial headroom to prepare not only a legal case, but a diplomatic one as well.
09:24Bureau Report, India Today Television.
09:31India Today's been able to track down the Belgian doctor who issued the medical certificate to Mehul Choksi.
09:42It's Dr. Mark Dock who issued a certificate on the 14th of February saying that
09:47Mehul Choksi has blood cancer, acute lymphoid leukemia.
09:53And this is the doctor whose certificate Choksi is citing to explain why he thinks he can't be sent to India
10:01because he's got a highly advanced stage of blood cancer.
10:06I want to show you an excerpt from the phone-in interview we did with the doctor in Belgium
10:11who's issued this certificate to Mehul Choksi.
10:14I also want to introduce my colleague, Divesh Singh, who's done this exclusive for India Today.
10:19I'll speak to Divesh in a moment. Let's listen to Divesh's interview with the Belgian doctor.
10:26Dr. Docks, this is Divesh Singh calling from India, from Indian news channel, India Today.
10:32I can't talk about patients of course, eh? Okay?
10:36This letter that you had issued, this certificate that you had issued has been challenged in Indian court
10:41by the Indian law enforcement agency.
10:44Yeah, but okay. You understand we cannot talk about patients on the telephone, okay?
10:48It's all medical things which are not allowed to talk about, okay?
10:53Divesh Singh now joins us. The doctor very naturally is saying he can't speak about a patient's medical history.
11:02But you've read that report which is also playing on our screen right now.
11:06It says that he's got acute lymphoid leukemia,
11:11which is essentially suggesting that he's got a highly advanced stage of blood cancer.
11:15Why do Indian investigative agencies think he's making it up, he's lying,
11:20that this is not true, that he doesn't have cancer?
11:27Well, Rahul, in 2019, when Mehul Chokshi was in Antigua,
11:31again, at the same time, he had cited medical illness and his inability to travel to India.
11:37That time, enforcement directorate in court to his legal team had informed that a jet will be provided,
11:45a medical jet will be provided to Mehul Chokshi with a medical team from the JJ hospital
11:51who can bring him from Antigua to India, can treat him,
11:56and he'll be treated on the route while he's in air as well.
12:00He'll be provided complete medical support.
12:02Once the ED declared this in court, that he'll be provided full medical attention,
12:09he'll be provided with an air ambulance,
12:11he took back his application that he had filed in court,
12:15that he was unable to travel.
12:17He withdrew that application.
12:18And now, again, similar certificate has been brought in from Belgium,
12:22from a Belgian doctor, which has again been challenged by enforcement directorate.
12:26Very suspiciously, the certificate mentions that from February,
12:29a certain date in 14th February to 31st of August,
12:34Mehul Chokshi is unable to travel.
12:36He's 100% unable to travel, but he can move out of his residence.
12:40So, that means it says that he's unable to travel to India or any other country,
12:45but he's okay to travel, it's okay to travel in Belgium itself.
12:49That is what the certificate says.
12:51And that is why we contacted the doctor to seek clarity on that,
12:54because that has been challenged by enforcement directorate in the special PMLA court in Mumbai.
12:59And recently, we just have the Rosanama, the exhibit,
13:03where ED told or informed court that this exhibit cannot be taken into consideration.
13:09It can be taken into consideration only during trial,
13:12but not for the proceedings of Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
13:17That only can be considered,
13:19this certificate only can be considered during trial.
13:22And he's brought in certificates or medical letters earlier also from various doctors like one in Antigua.
13:28So, he will keep bringing letters or certificates from doctors and he'll keep prolonging the process.
13:34Devesh Singh, thank you for joining us.
13:37You know, I want to go across to AP Singh.
13:38AP Singh is a highly renowned former chief of the Central Bureau of Investigation,
13:42India's premier investigative agency.
13:44Choksi understands the ins and outs of extradition and the case,
13:48has been tracking what's been happening in the Indian courts for a very long time.
13:51Mr. Singh, welcome.
13:52Thank you very much for joining us.
13:53Last week, you were on the show talking about the success that India had in extraditing Tahavu Rana.
13:59Everyone watching at this time would wonder,
14:01we've got Rana.
14:02Can we get Choksi next?
14:03Okay, first, just for the information of your viewers,
14:11let me explain to you that Interpol notice is only an alert.
14:15It's not a warrant of arrest.
14:16It is just an alert to various countries that this person is wanted by an Indian court.
14:23Now, it's up to that country whether it takes action or not.
14:25It's Interpol, it's not a binding kind of thing that, you know,
14:29if there's Interpol notice, he has to be arrested.
14:32So that clarification I wanted to give you.
14:35So that's not important.
14:36For extradition, there are a lot of other things.
14:40You have to establish dual criminality.
14:44Now, in economic offenses, dual criminality can be a bit of a tricky situation.
14:49So they have to accept, you have to give evidence,
14:52enough evidence to show that this was a crime in Belgium
14:56and also that we have enough evidence.
15:00Then the third thing is that you have to say that, yes,
15:04human rights are going to be protected,
15:07his prison conditions, there will be no torture
15:11because they are very sensitive.
15:13EU countries are very sensitive on this point.
15:15But after saying that, I must congratulate the Indian agencies,
15:19I must congratulate the lawyers that they've been able to get him arrested.
15:24That's a big thing, to get him arrested.
15:27So what's changed now?
15:28They've been trying to get him arrested for a long time.
15:30Explain to our viewers, Mr. Singh, what's changed now?
15:33We've been trying this for a while.
15:34He's now been arrested, but he's been in Belgium for quite a while.
15:37Yeah, but I think that they had to prepare a case, right?
15:45They had to go to the Indian courts,
15:48get the proper charge sheet,
15:52and then pass that on to the Belgium authorities
15:55who would examine it and then only take action.
15:58It's not that you just have a warrant of arrest and they pick him up.
16:00They must have been satisfied that there is a preliminary case
16:05for arresting and putting him in custody.
16:09And then, you know, the further actions will take place.
16:12So that, in fact, you know, we have had a lot of successes.
16:18Malia has already been extradition,
16:20his extradition has been ordered by every court.
16:23It is only the Home Secretary now who is not taking a decision to extradite him.
16:27Neeraj Modi is in prison for six years.
16:32I think that's a big achievement.
16:33I mean, okay, they've not been able to get him to India,
16:36but six years in a UK prison, he's still there.
16:40So we have had good successes.
16:43There have been some drawbacks like the Sanjay Bhandari
16:47and one or two other cases where the courts have not agreed with India.
16:51No, so can Mehul Chokshi, Mr. Singh, get away in Belgium by saying,
16:56I have blood cancer.
16:58I have Karnel Singh also joining us.
16:59Karnel Singh is a very renowned enforcement director.
17:02Before I speak to him, I want you to explain.
17:05Mehul Chokshi claims he's got cancer.
17:07He's got this medical certificate.
17:09We just played that out from the doctor who issued that certificate.
17:13He's got advanced cancer.
17:14He thinks that's not true.
17:16But if he's got this certificate,
17:17can that by itself be reason for him not to be sent back to India, Mr. Singh?
17:24Yes, it can.
17:25If it's genuine, it can.
17:28Because medical grounds is very important.
17:30Human rights is very important.
17:32So all these things matter.
17:34Because, you know, if he says that
17:35I cannot get the proper treatment in an Indian jail,
17:39they'll torture me.
17:40They will not give me the proper medical assistance.
17:45Because you must remember that his wife is a Belgian citizen also.
17:49She is a Belgian citizen.
17:50So he has that protection.
17:52He's not illegally in Belgium.
17:54And whatever people may say,
17:56but he's not illegally in Belgium.
17:58His wife is a Belgian citizen.
18:01So he has some rights in Belgium itself.
18:03Colonel Singh Ji, welcome.
18:06You know, I must tell our viewers,
18:08I'm sure you know,
18:08Colonel Singh is one of the sharpest ED officers.
18:11Lots of big cases,
18:13particularly on terrorism,
18:15financing,
18:16to his credit.
18:17So it brings a wealth of insights.
18:19Now the ED thinks
18:21Mehul Chokshi is lying about this blood cancer.
18:24He looks quite badly off to me.
18:26I mean, in the wheelchair,
18:27I have no idea whether he has cancer.
18:29And that's something which is very, very private
18:30to his own health.
18:31But he does look badly off.
18:34Are you concerned that Mehul Chokshi
18:35can use the pretext of being terribly unwell
18:39and therefore not come back to India?
18:43See, he will use all the pretexts,
18:46whether it is the conditions in the Indian prisons,
18:49he can cite like Vijay Malaya had cited in UK,
18:53or the health issues.
18:55But the question will come,
18:56how do we satisfy the courts in the Belgium
18:58that we have the facilities to treat him in India?
19:03So if we can convince that,
19:05then there is a very, very high possibility
19:07that he will come to India.
19:09Why has this happened now?
19:11Because we had that botched operation
19:13in Antigua to try and bring him back.
19:16He has now been in Belgium for a while.
19:17I asked the same question to A.P. Singh.
19:20Why are we seeing, I mean,
19:21from a layman's perspective,
19:23Tahavur Rana likes last week,
19:25Mehul Chokshi being arrested.
19:27Now it makes for great headlines.
19:28But what's happening behind the scenes?
19:29Tell us that.
19:30Number one is the Indian agencies
19:34have come to know that very sea
19:36at the particular point of time.
19:39So last year, somewhere in, I think,
19:41October, the Indian agencies
19:43came to know that he's there.
19:45Then we have to get the court orders
19:46for extradition.
19:48That doesn't take much time.
19:50But what happens is extradition is
19:51the process in which two things are required.
19:55Two things are involved.
19:56One is the political bureaucratic decision.
19:59And second is the judicial process.
20:04The political bureaucratic,
20:08again, depends upon the diplomacy.
20:10That means Indian government
20:11is able to convince the government in Belgium
20:15that we have a strong case.
20:18And therefore, Belgium government is satisfied
20:20that, yes, they have a strong case.
20:22And therefore, what happens in extradition
20:24is now the Belgium government
20:25will go to the court of Belgium
20:27asking for extradition of that person.
20:30And that clearly indicates
20:31that the first hurdle we have crossed.
20:34And that is the reason of some delay
20:35because the government
20:37has to be convinced at that place.
20:40I have Vijay Agarwal joining me.
20:45He's Mehul Chokshi's lawyer.
20:47Vijay Agarwal is great for his clients
20:49but bad for Indian agencies
20:50because he manages to do things like
20:52get their red corner notice, etc. removed.
20:55Vijay Agarwal,
20:56you know, everyone watching,
20:57most 99% of those watching
20:59would say bring Mehul Chokshi back.
21:00We got Tahavur Rana back last time.
21:03Last week, we get Chokshi back next.
21:05Why do you think Chokshi
21:06should not be sent back?
21:07How do I know
21:08that you and Chokshi
21:09are not lying about claiming
21:10he has blood cancer
21:11when actually he doesn't?
21:15One thing is that
21:16you don't talk to lawyer
21:17in that tone
21:18that you are not lying.
21:19I'm defending my client, right?
21:21I could say that
21:21you are lying about it
21:22when you are talking about
21:23Sushantik Rajput,
21:24you are lying about it
21:25when you are talking about 2G case.
21:26That's not the way.
21:27You don't address a lawyer like this, Rahul.
21:30Sir, I asked you a question.
21:31I asked you a question.
21:32You just make your point.
21:33I also said you are good
21:34for your clients.
21:36You are like a very smart lawyer.
21:38You are cherry picking
21:39what suited you
21:40and trying to pick a fight.
21:41The fact is
21:42I also said you are good
21:43for your clients.
21:44That's not how you start
21:45a conversation.
21:45You could say that
21:46how do you feel
21:46that your client is not lying?
21:47That could have been the question.
21:48You don't target to the lawyer, right?
21:50Why don't you answer my question instead?
21:53I will answer if the question is proper
21:55and if it is business-like
21:57and if it is an educated
21:59and a properly put question
22:00then I am answering.
22:01Now still I will answer.
22:02First of all,
22:03let me give back to you
22:04what you gave to me.
22:05One.
22:06Now you said that
22:07the client is not lying.
22:08These are the documents
22:10that is for the agencies to verify.
22:12These are the documents
22:13sent to me by my client.
22:14I have put it in the court
22:16and it is for the agencies to verify.
22:18One can say one is lying.
22:20So everyone said that
22:21okay, I was a lawyer
22:22in 2G scam case.
22:23They said it's a big case.
22:23What happened?
22:24People said
22:25Bofors is a big case.
22:26It happened.
22:26You were running the chauffeur.
22:28What happened?
22:29Arushi Talwar.
22:30What happened?
22:31There have been a lot of other cases.
22:34Tarun Tejpal case.
22:35What happened?
22:36So you never know.
22:37At this moment
22:37my client
22:38as per Indian law
22:40is presumed
22:41to be innocent.
22:42He is an accused
22:44not a convict.
22:45He is a muljing
22:46not a mojarin.
22:47So he is to defend himself.
22:49Sure.
22:49Now please see
22:50he is an old person
22:51and
22:52if you do some homework
22:53he has been under
22:55the treatment
22:55since 2012
22:57much before
22:58the cases happened.
22:59So he did not
23:00run away from India.
23:02When the cases happened
23:03that time also
23:04he was getting treated
23:05in New York.
23:06So we are defending
23:06the client.
23:07I mean you know
23:07if I defend a person
23:08suppose there is a case
23:09tomorrow on you
23:10or your channel
23:10or anybody
23:11so anybody
23:12that the case
23:12can be
23:12Okay like a good lawyer
23:13you are making a big deal
23:14of a slight point
23:15that I made
23:16while introducing you
23:17but let me ask you
23:18the next question
23:18that you think
23:20that you are not lying
23:21you never talk
23:22to a lawyer like this.
23:23I never said that.
23:24I said how do I know
23:24that you are not lying
23:25that was my question.
23:26I said how do I know
23:27you are not lying
23:28was the way
23:28and everyone who is
23:29watching would recognize
23:30that but that is not
23:31the point.
23:31I will park that
23:32on the side.
23:33When did you last
23:34speak to Mehul Choksi
23:35what did you tell you?
23:36I spoke to him
23:38a week back
23:38and say the man
23:41proposes
23:41God disposes
23:42I was to go
23:44and meet the lawyers
23:45in Belgium
23:47so I was flying
23:48to Belgium
23:50on 17th
23:50now today only
23:51I cancelled
23:52all my tickets
23:53and everything
23:54because
23:54I was to
23:57meet him
23:58on 17th
24:00evening
24:00I was supposed
24:01to meet him
24:01but you know
24:02then I got the news
24:03that he had been arrested
24:04and I am also being told
24:05that the hearing
24:07is not going to take place
24:08for the next 5 to 6 days
24:09that is the procedure there
24:10the application
24:11the lawyers are going
24:12to be moving
24:12in day or 2
24:13my Belgium counterparts
24:14and then I am told
24:16that they don't give him
24:17a hearing
24:17till 5 days
24:18so then there is
24:20no point.
24:22Are you also in touch
24:23with Preeti Choksi
24:24Mehul Choksi's wife?
24:26That's a client
24:27attorney privilege
24:27communication
24:28I am sorry
24:28I will not be able
24:29to answer that
24:30Rahul.
24:31Sure but what are
24:32you picking up
24:32so if I were to
24:33ask you to explain
24:34to our viewers
24:34the Choksi
24:36point of view
24:36on this arrest
24:38because India
24:38and Indian agencies
24:39think now
24:40with these arrests
24:41they have a real chance
24:41of bringing the man back
24:42Ji
24:43that's 100%
24:46and as Mr. Karnelsing
24:48also said
24:49very correctly
24:49that they have
24:51set the ball rolling
24:52the warrant
24:53was sent
24:54way back
24:55in November
24:562024
24:57right
24:58so it was lying
24:58so 100%
25:00they have set
25:00the ball rolling
25:01number one
25:02number two
25:03is that
25:03this is the first
25:04step
25:04that the man
25:05is arrested
25:05and now
25:06we are going
25:07to appeal
25:07against it
25:08and we will
25:08in India
25:09they call it
25:10bail
25:10they call it
25:10I am being told
25:11that they call it
25:12the freedom application
25:13we will be praying
25:14for freedom
25:14and we say
25:15that okay
25:15while we are
25:16out
25:17then we should
25:18be contesting
25:18our case
25:19so that happened
25:20in the case
25:21of Vijay Malaya
25:21that he got bail
25:22but this
25:23Nirav Modi
25:23has been unlucky
25:24he did not get bail
25:25so first
25:26is the
25:26getting the man
25:27out
25:28and then we will
25:28be consent
25:29so why did
25:29Malaya get bail
25:30and Nirav Modi
25:31didn't
25:31and what are
25:32the parallels
25:32and conclusions
25:33for the Choksi case
25:34they said
25:35for Nirav Modi
25:36that time
25:36I was representing
25:37Nirav Modi
25:37also
25:38for Nirav Modi
25:38they said
25:39that he did not
25:39have any
25:40community ties
25:41in India
25:41they carried
25:42troops in
25:42this society
25:43in Nirav Modi
25:44they said
25:44he does not
25:45have community
25:45ties
25:46so he will
25:46be a flight
25:47risk
25:47from
25:48London
25:50Vijay Malaya
25:53has a house
25:53there
25:53and everyone
25:54has there
25:55so Nirav Modi
25:55family was
25:56in US
25:57so they
25:57branded him
25:58as a flight
25:58risk
25:59that is
25:59they don't
25:59grant him
26:00bail
26:00but just
26:01now
26:01when I was
26:01trying to
26:02join the
26:02channel
26:02I think
26:03somebody
26:03was speaking
26:03that you
26:04know
26:04because he's
26:05from Belgium
26:05so I feel
26:06that because
26:06of two
26:06reasons
26:07Mr. Mehul Choksi
26:08has a very
26:08good chance
26:09for bail
26:09there is
26:10one
26:11and please
26:11see
26:11his RCN
26:13also got
26:13cancelled
26:13and there
26:15are a number
26:15of agencies
26:16who have
26:16opined
26:17that yes
26:18he was
26:18abducted
26:19by the
26:19Indian
26:19agencies
26:20from
26:20Dominica
26:21and he
26:21was taken
26:21to Antigua
26:22and his
26:22human rights
26:23were violated
26:24so because
26:25of this
26:25mistake
26:26and the
26:26goof up
26:27already
26:27committed
26:28so we
26:29stand a
26:29very very
26:29good chance
26:30because this
26:31inter-post
26:32observation
26:33will really
26:34come in handy
26:35second is
26:35that he is
26:36a sick man
26:37undoubtedly
26:38that he has
26:39been under
26:40treatment
26:40hold that
26:41thought for
26:41a moment
26:41let me get
26:42a counter
26:42from
26:42Karnel
26:43Singh
26:43now when
26:44the likes
26:44of Vijay
26:45Agarwal
26:45argue
26:46that he is
26:46not a
26:46flight risk
26:47his address
26:48in Belgium
26:48is known
26:49he is not
26:50a fugitive
26:50from the
26:50law
26:51which is
26:51the basis
26:52that they
26:52had
26:52to get
26:53his red
26:54corner
26:54notice
26:54revoked
26:55if you
26:56are arguing
26:57currently
26:57on behalf
26:58of the
26:58enforcement
26:58director
26:58what would
26:59you say
26:59Mr.
26:59Singh
26:59Karnel
27:04you are
27:04on mute
27:04see basic
27:09argument
27:10is that
27:10he is
27:11moving from
27:12one country
27:12to another
27:13country
27:13initially
27:15he went
27:15to New York
27:16then shifted
27:16to another
27:17country
27:17then shifted
27:17to another
27:18country
27:18so there is
27:19a possibility
27:20that somehow
27:21he can sneak
27:22out of the
27:22country
27:22there would
27:23be argument
27:23against
27:24what Mr.
27:24Vijay Agarwal
27:25says
27:25there will
27:26be argument
27:26given by
27:27our advocates
27:28on our
27:28side
27:29to nullify
27:30the arguments
27:31given by
27:31the other
27:32side
27:32this
27:32botched
27:33operation
27:34in
27:34Dominica
27:34I mean
27:35A
27:35of course
27:36we can
27:36just deny
27:37it
27:37but they
27:37will
27:38cite
27:38they will
27:38kind of
27:39build
27:39circumstantial
27:40evidence
27:40and say
27:40they tried
27:41to abduct
27:42him
27:42his human
27:42rights
27:42were violated
27:43by Indian
27:43agencies
27:44then what
27:44do we
27:44say
27:44see
27:45I don't
27:46believe
27:47that will
27:47have any
27:47impact
27:48on this
27:49particular
27:49extradition
27:51because
27:51once the
27:52extradition
27:52ball is
27:53made rolling
27:54that means
27:54their government
27:55is satisfied
27:55that is
27:56number one
27:57number two
27:58is whether
27:58that was
27:58okay
27:59just
27:59once again
28:00hold that
28:01you are
28:01saying
28:01if the
28:02extradition
28:03ball starts
28:03rolling
28:04and if
28:04Choksi
28:05has been
28:06arrested
28:06you think
28:07that it
28:08is
28:08prima
28:08facie
28:09admission
28:09that the
28:10Belgium
28:11government
28:11is convinced
28:12of India's
28:12case
28:12is that
28:13what you
28:13are saying
28:13sir
28:13yeah
28:14absolutely
28:15because
28:15they go
28:16to the
28:17court
28:17they arrest
28:17the person
28:18only
28:18when the
28:19government
28:19is satisfied
28:20I told
28:21you there
28:21are two
28:21processes
28:24one is the
28:25political
28:25process
28:25of the
28:26government
28:26process
28:26and another
28:27is the
28:27judicial
28:27process
28:28does the
28:30government
28:30consider
28:30the evidence
28:33before coming
28:34to the
28:34conclusion
28:34about whether
28:36it is
28:36satisfied or
28:37not
28:37is that
28:37more a
28:38political
28:38decision
28:39no
28:39government
28:40considers
28:40the
28:40evidences
28:41also
28:41they
28:41consider
28:42the
28:42dual
28:43criminality
28:43also
28:44before moving
28:44that
28:45which is a
28:45basic requirement
28:46whether
28:47for the
28:48extradition
28:48same thing
28:49should be
28:49crime in
28:50that country
28:50same thing
28:51should be
28:51crime in
28:51our country
28:52that is
28:52dual
28:53criminality
28:53unless that
28:54is there
28:54government
28:55will not
28:55move
28:55and I
28:56told you
28:56previously
28:56that
28:57who will
28:58fight the
28:59case
28:59on our
29:00side
29:00of the
29:00Indian
29:01side
29:01in
29:01their
29:02courts
29:02it
29:03will
29:03be
29:03Belgium
29:04government
29:04their
29:05prosecutor
29:06would
29:06be
29:06there
29:06our
29:08prosecutors
29:10and the
29:11agencies
29:11would be
29:12only helping
29:13their
29:13prosecutor
29:13That's a
29:14very important
29:15point you
29:15make and I
29:15want Vijay Agarwal to
29:16respond to
29:17Mr. Singh's
29:17assertion
29:18that the fact
29:19that Choksi
29:20is being
29:20arrested
29:21demonstrates
29:22that the
29:23government in
29:24Belgium is
29:25convinced about
29:25the fact that
29:27he's committed
29:27an offense
29:28which is as
29:29much an
29:29offense in
29:30Belgium as
29:30it is in
29:30India
29:31I mean
29:32I think
29:34that Mr.
29:35Karnayas Singh
29:35I partly
29:36agree with
29:37him that
29:38when they
29:38move they
29:39consider the
29:40principle of
29:41dual criminality
29:41which is that
29:42the offense that
29:43India is
29:44alleging that
29:44should be the
29:45offense in
29:45Belgium also
29:46the paper
29:47should be
29:47complete
29:48so that
29:48means that
29:49it is
29:50technically
29:50complete but
29:51it is a
29:51first step
29:52first of all
29:53whenever there is
29:54an extradition
29:54request
29:55suppose if
29:56there was a
29:56person in
29:57India and
29:57the extradition
29:58request would
29:58have come
29:59from somewhere
29:59else the
30:00first step is
30:00that you
30:01arrest the
30:01person and
30:02then the
30:02person says
30:03no I want
30:04to contest
30:05my extradition
30:05otherwise you
30:06have to first
30:07arrest the
30:07person because
30:08you want to
30:08deport it so
30:09you take him
30:09into the
30:10custody so I
30:10would say that
30:11arrest is
30:12procedural arrest
30:13and second very
30:13good point you
30:14raised Rahul
30:15no no that's
30:15not what
30:16Karnayas Singh is
30:16saying he's
30:17been director of
30:17the enforcement
30:18directory he
30:18knows these
30:19things he's
30:19saying arrest
30:20means the
30:21Belgium government
30:22for what it
30:22is worth not
30:23the courts the
30:23government has
30:24considered the
30:24case and they
30:25think they've
30:26got evidence
30:27against him
30:28I have great
30:29regard for Mr.
30:30Karnayas Singh but
30:31I always empire
30:32the ball I don't
30:34empire the player
30:35so everyone knows
30:36their subject so I
30:38said I respectfully
30:39disagree with him
30:41no no I want to
30:42go and get AP
30:42Singh's perspective
30:43on this we want
30:44to have difference
30:44of opinion I want
30:45your expert opinion
30:46on this when the
30:47government of
30:48Belgium Mr.
30:48Singh arrests
30:49someone like a
30:51Mahul Choksi has
30:52it considered the
30:53evidence put up by
30:54investigative agencies
30:55and come to the
30:56conclusion that there
30:57seems to be a case
30:57against him or is
30:59it just as Vijay
31:00Agarwal says a
31:01pusrija arrest
31:02see definitely they
31:03no well it's a
31:06prima facie arrest
31:08it's a prima facie
31:09arrest now they have
31:10to go into the
31:11documents and make
31:12sure that it is
31:14correct but let me
31:15tell you I mean I'm
31:16not trying to be
31:17negative about this
31:18but EU it is very
31:20tough to get an
31:20extradition out of
31:21EU it's I'm I'm
31:23I'm very amazed
31:24that they have
31:25arrested him but
31:26it happened with
31:26it happened with
31:27Abu Saleem that
31:28was in a terror
31:29case in 1993 but
31:30it happened with
31:31Abu Saleem yeah
31:32terror case after
31:34that it hasn't
31:35happened after that
31:36I told you we
31:37tried Kim Davies
31:38who said I have
31:39committed a crime
31:40I have dropped all
31:41these arms but
31:42they said no human
31:44rights prison
31:44conditions we are
31:45not sending him
31:46back so I don't
31:47think you've got
31:48much success from
31:49EU yet
31:50Tahu or Rana
31:52yes Americans are
31:54totally different
31:55if President Trump
31:56says something and
31:57you know the Supreme
31:58Court will agree and
32:00they send them back
32:00they don't go so much
32:02into the judicial
32:02process as the
32:04European Union does
32:05and they're very very
32:07conscious of human
32:08rights health and
32:10dual criminality I
32:12mean you know you
32:13have to be able to
32:14prove that there was a
32:15proper offense in this
32:16case which is which is
32:19the same is which is
32:20criminal in Belgium as
32:23well you know I
32:24want to go across to
32:25tough hall I think
32:26it's a major step that
32:28he has been arrested I
32:29want to go across to
32:29Munish Pandey he leads
32:31our coverage of the
32:32enforcement directorate
32:34and the CBI Munish
32:35someone like AP Singh
32:37who's been director of
32:38the CBI says let's not
32:40get our hopes high up
32:41this is very difficult
32:43the EU doesn't typically
32:44send back economic
32:45offenders Silem was
32:46different because that
32:47is a terror case you've
32:48been speaking to senior
32:49officers in the agencies
32:51how confident are they
32:52that they'll get Choksi
32:53back
32:53well Rahul the Indian
32:57agencies both the
32:58Central Bureau of
32:58Investigation and the
33:00Enforcement Directorate
33:00they are hopeful that
33:02something positive has
33:03happened finally because
33:04remember it has been
33:05cat and mouse game
33:06between Indian
33:07agencies and Mihul
33:08Choksi just a week
33:09before the fire was
33:10launched Mihul Choksi
33:11ran from the country in
33:122018 later he was
33:14spotted in US but
33:15before the Indian
33:15agencies can could have
33:17made the formal
33:18request with the US
33:19authorities he fled to
33:21Antigua later he was
33:22you know spotted in
33:23Dominica but again he
33:25fled back to Antigua so
33:26there have been you know
33:28back and forth as far as
33:29Indian agencies and
33:30Mihul Choksi is concerned
33:32but finally six months
33:34back when he was
33:35spotted in Belgium on
33:37the request and on the
33:39basis of the
33:39documents given by
33:40Indian agencies to the
33:42Belgium authorities he
33:43has been placed under
33:44arrest since April 12th
33:46so at least there is a
33:47hope that he can be
33:49brought back to India if
33:50the extradition proceeding
33:51starts but Rahul it is
33:54not going to be easy the
33:55Indian agencies know that
33:56know this part very well
33:58that humanitarian ground is
34:00something which is going to
34:01be extremely important and
34:03Mihul Choksi and Vijay
34:05lawyer you know I think he is
34:06ready with this strategy also
34:08so that he is going to play
34:09with this humanitarian
34:10angle that he is not well
34:12he is suffering from blood
34:13cancer and he should not be
34:15sent back to India and
34:17recently Rahul this is
34:18important to point out that
34:20in Sanjay Bhandari's case in
34:21the UK court the UK court
34:23denied extradition of Sanjay
34:25Bhandari because of the
34:26prison conditions in India so
34:29these are the types of
34:30arguments which will take place
34:32before the Belgium authorities
34:34before the Belgium court and
34:35this is why it is going to be
34:37very tricky but so far so far
34:40what we have been given to
34:41understand is that both the
34:43officials from the central
34:44bureau of investigation and the
34:45enforcement directed they will
34:47be traveling to Belgium they'll
34:48be assisting the prosecution
34:51prosecution in Belgium and they
34:54will try to make a case that
34:56based on the evidence when
34:58Nero Modi can be arrested in UK
34:59based on the same evidence even
35:01mehul choksi should be should
35:04remain inside the jail and also
35:06extradition proceedings should
35:09start against him
35:09SV Hari Prasad is the
35:11whistleblower in this case I see
35:12Karnal Singh ji has his finger up
35:14I'm going to go back to him in
35:15just a moment but as the
35:16whistleblower Mr Hari Prasad how
35:19significant do you think this
35:20arrest is from what I can gather
35:22getting an economic offense offender
35:24back to India from the EU is tough
35:28terrorism is different this is an
35:30economic offense and we've seen in
35:32the UK citing jail conditions his
35:35health etc it may be difficult the
35:37one other way of looking at it is
35:38he's at least in prison you know
35:40like Nero Modi is in jail in the
35:42United Kingdom is that is that not
35:44a step in the right direction you
35:45think obviously it is a step in the
35:49right direction but what is the
35:52crux of the matter arresting him and
35:54putting him in the jail is the the
35:57the crux of the matter are bringing
35:59bringing back the money that he has
36:01looted from India is the important
36:03matter that we have to discuss about it
36:06now all the procedures are there all the
36:08legalities are there but what is the
36:10crux why
36:11explain to our viewers watching how much
36:14of the money that he looted has come
36:16back in your estimate and how much is
36:17still missing I have no idea I don't
36:23think any money has come from I read
36:25some two thousand crore rupees have been
36:27recovered whatever the assets he has left
36:30here that have been seized but that
36:32figure is also not out to the public
36:34domain so I really don't know how much
36:36was the looted amount and how much was
36:38the amount seized and realized what do
36:42you think is most likely to happen next
36:44Mr. Ari Prasad most probably he could be
36:49either granted a bail and he would be
36:52free or he would be in the prison what
36:55else can happen
36:55Colonel Singh ji if he gets bail like was
36:59the case with you think you see parallels
37:00with Sanjay Bhandari's case this point
37:02that Munish makes that the court in
37:04England apparently cited prison
37:06conditions in India as a reason to not
37:09extradite Bhandari
37:11I don't know about Bhandari's case but
37:14in the Vijay Malia case also same issues
37:16were raised about the Indian jail
37:18conditions and then we had sent the
37:20the evidences the videos of the where he
37:23would be kept in the Indian prison and
37:25the UK court was satisfied in that
37:26particular case yes Indian prison
37:28conditions are okay so I don't say that
37:32it depends upon how do you present the
37:34case in a particular thing we the Indian
37:37agencies would be presenting the
37:39evidences in the Belgium courts also and I
37:43hope they would be able to convince the
37:44Belgium court that the jail conditions in
37:47India are good and the person can be sent
37:51Vijay Agarwal has his finger up so I'm gonna give him an opportunity to make his interjection sir
37:56you ask me to argue in front of the tree I'll go and argue in front of the tree provided that there is somebody is affording my time one two is
38:14you are 100% right Neerav Modi's example is an example against me that judgment is going to haunt me there it was held that the Indian prison condition is right Sanjay Bhandari case is a case in my favour where it was held that the present conditions are not right so then you have to weigh and then it is the client's luck and the argument and as Mr. Karnal Singh said very correctly that it depends upon presenting the case and then
38:19you go with it but the one thing I must tell you that the evidence is this is right you have to say that this is what the claim is right Neerav Modi's example is an example against me that judgment is going to haunt me that the judgment is going to haunt me that the sentiment is going to haunt me that it was held that the Indian prison condition is right
38:26Sanjay Bhandari case is a case in my neighbours where it was held that the present conditions are not right so then you have to weigh and then it's the client's luck and the argument and as Mr. Karnal Singh said very correctly that it depends upon presenting the case and then you go with it but one thing I must tell you my instructions are that the evidence that
38:32and conditions are not right so then you have to weigh and then it is the client's luck and the
38:37argument and as mr karnasing said very correctly that it depends upon presenting the case and then
38:44you go with it but one thing i must tell you my instructions are that the evidence has not gone
38:50yet from india only a request has gone so you know all this bogey of they are seeing prime
38:54of his eye weighing the evidence and being satisfied no my understanding is that you know
38:59but you get a factured information that the evidence and that file which goes that has not
39:05gone as yet it is only a formal request that has gone with an open-ended warrant of 2018 and 2021
39:12so they have arrested on the basis of an open-ended warrant they have not looked at the evidence so
39:17there is no question of any prima fisai satisfaction it is only a warrant like even in india if the
39:23warrant goes from one state to another state they will simply execute the warrant they will not look
39:27at the case because a court has issued the warrant so it is the principle of committee of the court
39:31and in basis of the this treaties so that the their courts are respecting the decision of this court
39:37they are not going to assess at the stage of the the arrest they will assess it later that's when our
39:42turn will come and the full dress trial will take place mr ap singh you know in my experience it
39:48also depends to a great extent on the political equation between the two countries how committed and
39:54determined is the government of belgium to do india a favor in some way by sending someone like a
39:59choksi back by putting its political weight behind it what's your reading of the state of play between
40:04india and belgium at this time and the determination of the belgian government to send him back to india
40:09see this government and judiciary are totally independent in these countries they don't you know
40:19unlike the u.s they they are not linked together so whatever the government may want the judiciary
40:25is totally independent and they will take their own decisions as i told you in the kim davi case
40:30the the danish government wanted to send him back the the judiciary said no this is the finally the
40:37supreme court so i no matter how much the government wants in in this and in uh in uk it was the opposite
40:45the judiciary said malia should be should be extradited the government put its foot down so so
40:50far there's been no extradition because the home secretary has not approved it so they are totally
40:56on to they're not on on the same uh sort of uh you know they're not on board together they are totally
41:04independent they will take totally independent decisions you know we've had a very insightful
41:08conversation i want to see vijay agarwal argue in front of a tree that would be very nice
41:13neither mr ap singh nor karnel singh nor i nor the government of india can afford to do that
41:17but be interesting to see in any case but for the time being karnel singh g mr ap singh for taking
41:22out time and joining me on this broadcast and enriching our viewers with the depth of your
41:26insights thank you very much i appreciate it once hailed as a business success story choksi's downfall was
41:33as swift as it was spectacular with interpol notices a pending extradition request and now a fresh
41:39arrest in belgium his legal troubles have deepened here's a look at how choksi's glittering diamond
41:46empire crumbled
42:02once a prominent name in the global diamond and jewelry trade choksi's empire began to collapse
42:08after the cbi and the ed uncovered a massive banking scam in 2018
42:15choksi the promoter of the gitanjali group was accused of orchestrating more than
42:206 000 crore fraud in connivance with bank officials of panjab national bank
42:27soon after operations of gitanjali gems and its affiliated entities came to a grinding halt
42:33multiple premises linked to the group were raided and assets were frozen including bank accounts
42:40and properties on september 10 2024 the court authorized the valuation and auction of attached
42:47assets worth 2 565 crore rupees belonging to the gitanjali group proceeds from these auctions are being
42:56deposited in fixed deposits under the bank's names however the financial base extended far beyond
43:02indian borders prithi choksi may whose wife was not just a passive participant but an active
43:09beneficiary of the scam in 2013 she allegedly collaborated to float three offshore entities
43:18my husband was a businessman he never had an npa until this whole saga of pnb started alleged
43:28saga my husband is a citizen of antigua and balbuda and it is the duty of antigua and balbuda to look after
43:38their citizens they must take him back once hailed as a business success story choksi's downfall was as
43:47swift as it was spectacular bearer report india today an uneasy calm prevails in west bingal's
43:56murshidabad after anti-wuff clashes there's heavy presence of paramilitary forces including the bsf and
44:02the crpf the violence has also triggered a bjp versus tmc war awards while the thurnamool has claimed
44:09there's a larger conspiracy the bjp claims the violent protests have triggered an exodus of hindus
44:26murshidabad is slowly recovering from deadly anti-wakf rights which killed three
44:33and forced 500 local residents to turn refugees
44:42investigators have uncovered a disturbing trend children and teenagers belting stones vandalizing
44:50shops and residences rioters had set fire to multiple homes attacked residents forcing a hindu exodus
45:03and now a day later the residents are slowly returning under heavy police cover
45:18so we are trying to ensure that this case is dealt with the greatest sensitivity the greatest
45:45responsibility so that all the actual persons who had gone there and who had indulged in this kind of
45:51heinous crime are brought to book bengal cops blamed banned pfi front sdpi for brainwashing
45:59local muslim community by spreading lies about snatching of muslim land sdpi kaha
46:07the bjp sought nia probe and posted a video of mamta banerji warning against possible muslim
46:35unrest in the
47:04The TMC pointed fingers at BJP and Border Guard's BSF, saying they stoked fire.
47:34While scores have been arrested for the violence, will the rear perpetrators behind Murshidabad
47:49riots be brought to book?
47:52With Anupam Mishra in Murshidabad, Bureau Report, India Today.
47:58At least three people were killed.
48:00Now over 150 have been arrested in the aftermath of West Bengal's Murshidabad violence.
48:06India Today has been reporting from the riot zones.
48:08Watch this ground report by Indrajit Kundu and Anupam Mishra.
48:25Decidest to save life from Bengal riot zone.
48:35Cinged by deaths, violence and rioting over Vakf law, at least 500 Hindus, mostly women and
48:47children fled Murshidabad.
48:53After attacks, arson rape threats.
48:58Entire families fled Murshidabad by boat.
49:04Some carrying infants, others with nothing but trauma.
49:15Survivors narrate mayhem unleashed by Muslim mobs, who selectively targeted Hindu homes.
49:24Women say writers set their homes on fire and issued death threats.
49:48Writers say writers set their homes on fire and issued death threats.
49:58Muslims began to make a visit to Muslim.
50:12This is the area of the man who was sent to the horse.
50:14India today, meanwhile, visited the Das household in Murshidabad.
50:44Young Chandan Das and his elderly father were dragged out of their homes and hacked to
50:53death, allegedly by a Muslim mob protesting Waqf law.
51:01The family says no one from the administration bothered to help.
51:06It was a criminal, the police came here and came here.
51:13The police were shot and hit him.
51:17The police was shot.
51:19The police were shot and was shot.
51:21The Dhulian, Shamsherganj area in the past 48 hours.
51:40You can see at the house right now, even though the BSF jawans are manning it, this is the
51:46kind of carnage that was witnessed by the family, which has not just resulted in the destruction
51:54of property, but also the death of two members of this very family.
52:01Is Bengal government helpless in face of rampant rioting and rising hate attacks?
52:07With Anipam Mishra in Malda and Indrajit Kundu in Mursheedabad, Bureau Report, India Today.
52:13This is where I wrap up the news track tonight, for your time and your trust, thank you very
52:18much.
52:19I look forward to seeing you at 8pm tomorrow evening, till then from all of us here, goodbye.
52:23Good night.