Fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Monday. The arrest was in response to a formal extradition request filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Choksi, the prime accused in the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, is the second prime suspect to face legal action after his nephew and co-accused Nirav Modi. While Modi is in UK custody fighting his extradition.
Choksi has been living in Antigua since 2018 after fleeing India. He was reportedly found in Belgium last year on the pretext of medical treatment, following which he was finally arrested.
However, Choksi is not the only high-profile individual facing similar charges; several others are also under scrutiny by Indian enforcement agencies.
Here are some notable individuals in this category:
Vijay Mallya
Vijay Mallya, a well-known businessman and liquor baron, was declared a fugitive economic offender in 2019 for failing to repay loans taken by his Kingfisher Airlines from Indian banks.
According to reports, Mallya moved to the UK in 2016 and is fighting India's extradition plea. He remains on bail in London.
Nirav Modi
Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are the prime accused in a staggering Rs 13,850 crore scam related to the Punjab National Bank (PNB), allegedly syphoning off funds using fraudulent Letters of Undertaking and foreign letters of credit.
Modi has been lodged in a London jail for the last six years. While Choksi was arrested in Belgium following a fresh plea by the CBI.
Lalit Modi
The founder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and its chief architect is under investigation by multiple agencies in connection with foreign exchange violations and the Rs 425 crore TV rights deal for the 2009 IPL with World Sports Group.
Amid growing scrutiny and legal pressure, Modi left India and is currently residing in the United Kingdom, where he is reportedly seeking asylum.
In March 2025, the Vanuatu government announced the cancellation of Modi's passport due to financial irregularities.
Vinay Mittal
Industrialist Vinay Mittal is accused of defrauding banks including Corporation Bank (now merged with Union Bank of India) and PNB to the tune of Rs 40 crore.
As per the reports, after fleeing the country, he was caught in Bali, Indonesia, after a long manhunt.
In January 2017, he was arrested in Indonesia and extradited back to India in 2018.
