Mehul Choksi says he has ‘blood cancer’, can’t return to India to stand trial

Antigua and Barbuda citizen Mehul Choksi, a key figure in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, has informed a Mumbai court of his inability to return to India to face trial due to his deteriorating health.

Currently residing in Belgium, Choksi claimed in a special plea that he is suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, commonly referred to as blood cancer. He received Antiguan citizenship by investment.

In his submission to the court, Choksi provided medical documentation along with an opinion from a doctor in Antwerp, asserting that he is “100% incapable” of traveling.

According to an Economic Times report, Choksi argued that his medical condition prevents him from undertaking the journey back to India.

However, an official source indicated that India’s healthcare system possesses world-class doctors and facilities that could adequately address Choksi’s medical needs, suggesting that he could receive treatment upon his return.

Choksi’s health concerns are not new; he has previously claimed to suffer from mental health issues stemming from a kidnapping incident in Antigua to Dominica.

The Indian government has been relentless in its pursuit of Choksi in connection with the $2 billion PNB scam, a high-profile case that has drawn considerable media attention.

Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, are considered primary accused in this financial fraud.

While Choksi is currently seeking medical care in Belgium, Modi has been imprisoned in the UK for over six years, as India continues to pursue his extradition.

The Mumbai court has yet to rule on Choksi’s plea, as the legal battle unfolds amid ongoing efforts by Indian authorities to bring him and Modi to justice.