The Bombay High Court on Thursday rejected all the pleas filed by fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi challenging the applications by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to declare him a fugitive economic offender (FEO) in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam.
A single Bench of justice S.V. Kotwal was hearing four petitions filed by Mr. Choksi. The ED had moved the special court to initiate proceedings against Mr. Choksi as an FEO, however he moved the High Court challenging some procedural lapses by the Central agency.
The directorate has filed three chargesheets against Mr. Choksi and his three companies — Gitanjali Gems Limited, Gili India Limited and Nakshatra Brand Limited. The chargesheet also names PNB bank officials for issuance of fraudulent letter of understanding (LoUs). The ED registered a case against Mr. Choksi on February 16, 2018 on the basis of the First Information Report registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation under criminal conspiracy and cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property of the Indian Penal Code and read with the Prevention of Corruption Act.
