Shivani Thakur
Published on: June 7, 2022, at 17:56 IST
Priti Choksi has been charged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which claims she was the ultimate beneficiary of several offshore firms used to route and store monies earned by the couple by defrauding Punjab National Bank.
The government agency that investigates financial crimes has identified Mehul Choksi, the duo’s three firms, and a former employee at the state-owned bank, in the latest charge sheet, the third thus far under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alongside Priti Choksi.
The additional accusations against Priti Choksi will allow authorities to seek her extradition from Antigua and Barbuda, where she and her husband fled to.
Priti Choksi alleged in an interview that her husband, Mehul Choksi, was abducted and tortured by Indian operatives after he went missing in Antigua and was found the next day in Dominica.
On the basis of an Antiguan Royal Police investigation, Dominica discontinued illegal entry proceedings against Mehul Choksi last month.
Priti Choksi, also known as Priti Pradyotkumar Kothari, was the ultimate beneficial owner of three firms in the United Arab Emirates, according to the third charge sheet filed by the ED.
“Priti Choksi was fully aware that the companies were beneficially owned and controlled by her husband Mehul Choksi. She helped him in incorporating firms in UAE to acquire properties therein. During investigation, summons was issued to her but she didn’t honour them,” the ED’s charge sheet says.
The couple and their three firms are accused of receiving $6,097 Crore in proceeds of crime, according to the charge sheet.
There are at least 20 offshore companies owned by Choksi which were used to routing and park fund has been listed by the ED.
