PNB scam: Mehul Choksi refuses to return to India citing health reasons, questions CBI how he is a threat to country

Gitanjali Gems Chairman and Managing Director Mehul Choksi, one of the prime accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam has openly replied to the Central Board of Investigation saying his health conditions don't allow him to come back to India.

The Indian government had revoked the passports of Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi who are being probed by the ED and other investigation agencies following a complaint by the PNB that they allegedly cheated the nationalized bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore.

In a mail to CBI, Mehul Choksi said that the Regional Passport Office (RPO) Mumbai has not given him any explanation as to why his Passport has been suspended and how he is a security threat to India.

Choksi also said that he is not in a position to travel due to his persisting health problem as he had a cardiac procedure which was conducted in the first week of February 2018 and there is still pending work to be done on the same.

"I am concerned about my health and well-being. In case I am arrested, then I would not be able to get proper health care and would be provided treatment only in a government Hospital.

I would be further denied treatment in a private Hospital. Even though the right to receive proper medical treatment is provided in the Constitution of India, however, in practicality a person accused of an offence who is behind prison is denied a doctor of his own choice," Choksi said in a mail.