Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi has been arrested by the Belgian Police, with India promptly sending out a request for his extradition to Belgian authorities.
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00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're tuned into Super 6 here on India Today.
00:04I'm Akshita Nantikopal. This brand new week over the next five days at 6pm.
00:08We'll be getting you the six top stories of the day.
00:11So what will we be covering over the next 60 minutes?
00:14Let's round up the six stories that's coming up for you.
00:17Story number one on Super 6.
00:19Mehul Choksi could finally be extradited.
00:22He's been awaiting Indian agencies for over seven years now.
00:26And finally, Choksi has been arrested in Belgium.
00:29India has put a request now for Choksi's extradition.
00:32So we'll tell you on Super 6. Will it finally happen?
00:35Will Choksi be extradited?
00:40Story number two.
00:41The Karnataka caste census report which has pitched for reservation,
00:45more reservation in Karnataka to go up to a whopping 85%.
00:49It's become a national talking point now
00:51as Prime Minister Modi accused the Congress of trying to bypass the constitution
00:55to appease the Muslim community.
00:57So we'll get you details of what the proposals are
01:00based on the caste census commission report.
01:05Story number three on Super 6 this evening.
01:07We'll talk about C. Shankaran Nair's legacy
01:09and why the entire nation is talking about his legal fight
01:12against the British Empire.
01:14Prime Minister Modi also hailed the freedom fighter today
01:17just ahead of Akshay Kumar's film K-32's release.
01:20So we'll break down that entire controversy for you.
01:25At 6.45 we're on Super 6.
01:28The threat to superstar Salman Khan's life.
01:31At a time already of extremely high security for him
01:33because of constant threats.
01:35Another one has come in.
01:36Another threat to blow up Salman Khan's car.
01:39These threats sent via messages to the police.
01:42So we'll tell you all about the additional measures being taken now
01:45to protect Salman Khan.
01:48Story number five.
01:50History will be scripted in just about an hour from now
01:53as six women in an all-women space crew will blast off.
01:56The likes of Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Laurence Sanchez
02:00are a part of this mission where they'll spend in all about four or five minutes
02:05in space the whole mission in just about ten minutes.
02:07And finally, as promised here on Super 6,
02:12all the action from the Indian Premier League,
02:14the Lucknow Super Giants set to take on the Chennai Super Peace.
02:18So let's get started.
02:19Seven years since Mehul Choksi fled India
02:36after perpetrating the biggest financial fraud ever on Indian soil,
02:41he could finally be brought back.
02:43A glimpse of hope that we're seeing of a financial villain
02:46perhaps being brought back to India.
02:49Just days after Tahavur Rana,
02:51Mehul Choksi, another wanted criminal,
02:53could be extradited to India in a matter of days.
02:56Choksi has been evading agencies to 2018,
02:59living comfortably in Antigua,
03:01is now in custody, arrested in Belgium.
03:05So how was Choksi arrested?
03:08Well, he's been chilling in Antigua and Barbuda since 2018.
03:11But using his wife's citizenship in Belgium,
03:13moved there claiming he needed to be treated for his blood cancer.
03:17These are the latest images from a few months ago
03:21in which you can see he's wheelchair bound.
03:23So immediately India swooped in
03:25because from Antigua, where he was a citizen by investment,
03:29so couldn't be touched,
03:30he moved briefly to Dominica.
03:32There also he was arrested because he didn't have papers.
03:34So went back to Antigua
03:36and then was in fact in Belgium.
03:39Now as soon as he was in Belgium,
03:41India swooped in, requesting Belgium to arrest Choksi,
03:44citing the two non-bailable warrants against him.
03:47He's now in a prison,
03:48arrested from a hospital on April 12th
03:50while he was undergoing treatment
03:52and he's already filed a bail plea
03:53which will be heard in a week.
03:56That means that India has a seven-week head start
03:59to push for extradition.
04:01And considering India and Belgium
04:03have a mutual extradition policy,
04:04it seems like this time the agencies
04:06will actually be able to bring him back.
04:08Choksi's legal team has been claiming he's unwell
04:11and so can't travel.
04:12India has rejected this excuse,
04:14highlighting how the diameter has travelled
04:16only recently from Antigua to Belgium.
04:18How is that possible if he's so unwell
04:20that he can't travel?
04:25Let's bring in our reporters on this broadcast.
04:28Munish Pandey, Anisha Madhur and Divyeesh Singh
04:30joining us with all the latest updates
04:32on what to expect in the days to come.
04:35Divyeesh, there's going to be of course
04:37an aggressive push by our agencies
04:39to try and get Mahil Choksi.
04:41This is the best chance they've got yet.
04:47Well, yes, as earlier,
04:49another prime accused in the PNB scam case,
04:53Nero Modi.
04:53It's been taking a long time.
04:55It's a long battle that the agencies
04:57and Indian government has fought
04:58in the UK court
04:59to bring Nero Modi,
05:01to extradite Nero Modi to India
05:03and that has been a learning experience
05:05and that is why this time agencies
05:07are not leaving any stone unturned
05:09and they are pushing the extradition request
05:13in an aggressive manner
05:15and they are putting all the resources in place.
05:19They are using the best facilities,
05:21they are sending the best officers
05:23to deal with the Belgian authorities
05:25and also the documents sent
05:27to the Belgian authorities
05:29are with details of complete criminality
05:33of money laundering,
05:35of scam that has been perpetrated,
05:37a well thought of pre-planned scam
05:39which was perpetrated by Mahil Choksi,
05:42how he'd laundered money,
05:43how he'd used layering of companies,
05:46shell companies,
05:47to buy properties in the UAE,
05:49in the USA
05:50and use royalties,
05:52show fake loans
05:53and diverted payments
05:55to launder huge amounts
05:57of almost 2 billion US dollars
06:00to defraud a nationalized bank
06:03which is a government bank in India
06:05which is public money
06:06that has been lost in this scam.
06:08So this is a very aggressive push
06:10by the Indian agencies
06:11to bring in right now
06:13Anisha Mathur
06:14as well as Munish Pandey
06:15for all the updates.
06:17I want to focus first
06:18on the legal perspective here Anisha.
06:20The biggest headache really
06:22for the Indian agencies
06:23in ensuring that they extradite
06:26and the extradition process
06:27moves forward
06:27is of course
06:28that Mahil Choksi
06:29will be challenging this
06:30in the courts of Belgium.
06:32He's essentially going to do it
06:33on health grounds.
06:34So will that hold good
06:36against the Indian agencies argument
06:37that this is a wanted man
06:39from 2018
06:39who's been on the run?
06:42Well Akshita,
06:43this is going to be
06:43a very complicated
06:44and very tough legal battle
06:47for the Indian authorities
06:48to fight.
06:49Now remember
06:50the biggest problem
06:51will be
06:52whether Mahil Choksi's
06:55legal team
06:56not that whether
06:58Mahil Choksi has a case
07:00but how long
07:00can he
07:01keep the case
07:03pending before the courts.
07:04Even in India
07:05the petitions
07:07by the ED
07:07to declare him
07:09a fugitive economic offender
07:10have been pending
07:11for the last seven years.
07:12we've seen
07:13in other cases
07:14where
07:14the entire
07:16legal process
07:17will have to be followed
07:19before Belgium
07:20will be able to
07:20extradite
07:21Mahil Choksi
07:22to India.
07:23The bail plea
07:24that is being filed
07:25by his lawyers
07:26that they've talked about
07:27they've said
07:28that they are going to
07:29raise the medical issue
07:30he is
07:30undergoing treatment
07:32for blood cancer
07:33and if that is correct
07:34if his medical treatment
07:36can be proved
07:37if they can prove
07:38that his
07:39medical treatment
07:40in Belgium
07:41or anywhere else
07:42in Europe
07:43is necessary
07:43to maintain
07:44his health
07:45to ensure
07:46his basic human rights
07:47then the battle
07:49will be very very tough.
07:51Even if they can't
07:52immediately
07:53get bail
07:55the Indian authorities
07:56will still have to deal
07:58with the
07:59extradition process
08:00itself
08:01because even though
08:01there is a treaty
08:02Mahil Choksi
08:03will have to
08:04will have the
08:05opportunity
08:07to go before
08:07the Belgian courts
08:09to argue
08:10his case
08:11with regard
08:11to his medical condition
08:12to argue
08:13his case
08:13that he's not
08:14in fact a fugitive
08:15and that is one point
08:16his lawyers
08:16have been making
08:17again and again
08:18that he is
08:18he has a bad
08:20medical condition
08:20he's offered
08:21to join investigation
08:23on video
08:24via video conferencing
08:25therefore
08:26the extradition process
08:27will have to be
08:28very well fought
08:30by the Indian authorities
08:31to ensure
08:31that he's actually
08:32brought back
08:33to face justice
08:34in India
08:34and it does not
08:35get tangled up
08:36in the process
08:37in Belgium.
08:38Back to you.
08:38Okay, just stay
08:39with me Anisha
08:40let's play out
08:41also for our viewers
08:41what Choksi's legal team
08:43has had to say
08:44really about
08:45these developments
08:46and the fact
08:46that he's now
08:47been arrested
08:47in Belgium.
08:50All I can say
08:51is that he has
08:52been arrested
08:52and it's a client
08:53or any privilege
08:54communication
08:54other details
08:55I'll not be able
08:56to give you
08:56but this I can
08:57confirm that yes
08:58my client has
08:58been arrested
08:59he is in prison
09:00at the moment
09:01and the legal
09:01remedy that we have
09:02is that we'll be
09:03filing an appeal
09:03and there we'll
09:04be making a request
09:05that he should be
09:07he should be released
09:09and he should be
09:10permitted to contest
09:11his case
09:11without being in custody.
09:13Were the grounds
09:14of the arrest
09:14explained to him
09:15during the time
09:16of the arrest?
09:16If so,
09:17what grounds
09:17has he actually
09:18been arrested?
09:19It's a procedure
09:20it's a procedure
09:21all details
09:21are yet to come
09:22to me
09:23so at the moment
09:25I'll not be able
09:25to divulge
09:26all the details.
09:27Are you planning
09:28to challenge
09:28his arrest
09:28and ask for bail?
09:30There the procedure
09:31is that the
09:32extradition request
09:33itself is challenged
09:33the process is challenged
09:34by filing an appeal
09:35and during that appeal
09:36you make a request
09:36there that my client
09:38should be permitted
09:38to contest the same
09:39without being in custody
09:40because he's not a flight
09:41risk and because
09:41of his medical condition.
09:43So are you planning
09:44to apply for bail as well?
09:45That's a request made
09:47this is not technically
09:48called bail
09:49that's a request
09:50that you made
09:51when you file an appeal.
09:53I want to bring in
09:54Munish Pandey also
09:55who tracks the agencies
09:56for us very very closely
09:57to get us a sense
09:59of really what the strategy
10:00is right now
10:01for the EED
10:01the CBI
10:02who will be looking
10:03to get Mehul Choksi
10:04in their hands
10:05to take forward
10:06their proceedings
10:06and investigation
10:07and Munish
10:08this is the best chance
10:09that they have
10:10the agencies I'm sure
10:11also recognize that
10:12what exactly
10:14is the communication
10:15that they've put forth
10:16to Belgian authorities
10:17the successful
10:18part one of their mission
10:20which is to get him
10:21arrested
10:21has been done already.
10:24Well Akhita
10:25the Indian agencies
10:26both the CBI
10:27and the enforcement
10:28director
10:28they are seeing
10:31this opportunity
10:31as the golden chance
10:33to get Mehul Choksi
10:34because remember
10:34here we are talking
10:35about a person
10:36who has been
10:37you know
10:38playing this hide and seek
10:39game from last
10:40seven years
10:40and he has played
10:41it successfully
10:42just before
10:44the Central Bureau
10:44of Investigation
10:45lost the FIR
10:46in the PNB scam case
10:48he fled just a week
10:49before that
10:50before the Indian
10:51authorities could
10:52you know
10:52request the US
10:53authorities to arrest
10:54Mehul Choksi
10:55he fled from there
10:56also
10:56before the Indian
10:57agencies can
10:58you know
10:59even track him
11:00to any other country
11:01he surrendered
11:01his Indian citizenship
11:03and he hid himself
11:05in a country
11:06which is Antigua
11:07from where the
11:08extradition was
11:08extremely difficult
11:09so he has
11:10you know
11:11smartly played
11:12his card
11:13as far as
11:13evading the Indian
11:14agencies are concerned
11:15but this time
11:16the Indian agencies
11:17are you know
11:18looking for this
11:19window where
11:20he cannot be
11:21he can
11:22he could be
11:23extradited to India
11:24and that is why
11:25you know
11:26recently a request
11:28was made to the
11:28Belgium authorities
11:29the documents
11:31the charge sheet
11:31against Mehul Choksi
11:32that was shared
11:33with the Belgium authorities
11:34and based on those
11:36evidence and documents
11:37that India
11:38you know
11:39is hopeful
11:39that this time
11:40at least they will
11:41get a hearing
11:42in the Belgium court
11:43where they will
11:44put in a request
11:45that at least
11:45we should proceed
11:46with extradition
11:48process
11:48once that process
11:49starts
11:50it means that
11:50Mehul Choksi
11:51will have to remain
11:52in jail for some time
11:53second important aspect
11:55is going to be
11:55he won't be able
11:56to travel to Antigua
11:57and then Indian agencies
11:58will be hopeful
11:59that he could be
12:01extradited back to India
12:03in next 3-4 years
12:04that is going to be
12:05a long
12:05you know
12:06legal hurdle
12:07for Indian agencies
12:08but Akshita
12:09it is going to be
12:10very challenging also
12:11because what we have seen
12:12you know
12:13Mehul Choksi
12:14is loaded with money
12:15he will spend
12:16crores and crores
12:17of rupees
12:17on getting the best
12:19of the lawyers
12:20in Belgium
12:20and he will try
12:21to secure bail
12:23to get out of jail
12:24in Belgium
12:25on the grounds
12:26that one
12:26he is unwell
12:27second
12:28if he is sent
12:29to India
12:29then he will not
12:30get better treatment
12:32and third
12:33and the most important
12:34going to be
12:35that he is ready
12:36to cooperate
12:36with the investigative
12:37agencies
12:38but at this condition
12:40he won't be
12:40travelled back to India
12:41He hasn't cooperated
12:43up until now
12:44but it will be
12:45interesting to see
12:46what plays out
12:46from what Munish
12:47is telling us
12:47it is going to be
12:48very very challenging
12:49for the authorities
12:50simply because
12:51of the kind of
12:51money power
12:52that Mehul Choksi
12:53has
12:53but there is
12:54a seven day window
12:55because the bail plea
12:56that's been filed
12:57by Mehul Choksi
12:57comes up in a week's
12:58time in the Belgian
12:59courts
12:59so that seven day
13:01window is something
13:01that the agencies
13:02will be looking to
13:03exploit
13:03make the most of
13:04move as fast
13:05as they can
13:06with their request
13:07for extradition
13:08let's get to now
13:09all of the reactions
13:10political reactions
13:11that have come in
13:12to this arrest
13:14of Mehul Choksi
13:45foreign
14:15Newsprint coming in that Indian officials now are all set to travel to Belgium for the next hearing in the Mehul Chokshi case,
14:23which could happen sometime next week.
14:26Now, the Indian team is reportedly preparing a legal strategy to ensure that he remains behind bars
14:31and that extradition proceedings can start.
14:34Like we explained to you, the idea is to ensure that he can't travel back to Antigua.
14:38That's most crucial for Indian authorities because once he's in Antigua,
14:42Chokshi is essentially untouchable for our agency.
14:46So authorities hopeful that based on the evidence,
14:48the Belgian court will accept Indian authorities' request for extradition proceedings.
14:52And I'll quickly bring in Munish again on this,
14:55as we're now picking up Munish that there will be a team of Indian officials present next week
14:59for the first hearing that takes place in Belgium.
15:02But just explain this to us.
15:03There's been a lot of talk about how India and Belgium have a mutual extradition policy.
15:08Does that work in India's favour?
15:10Well, certainly as far as legal aspects are concerned,
15:15Akshita, this will work in favour of India.
15:17But as far as Belgium is concerned,
15:19Akshita, we need to remember that when the relatives of Nero Modi and Mehul Chokshi
15:24were earlier spotted by the Indian agencies
15:27and the request was made in year 2019, 2020 and 2021,
15:31the Belgian authorities were not very cooperative at that point of time.
15:35The only difference is that the relatives of Mehul Chokshi and Nero Modi
15:39against whom the Indian agencies sent the request at that point of time,
15:44they were Belgian residents, they were Belgian citizens
15:48and that is why the request was not in favour of India at that point of time.
15:56Here, Mehul Chokshi is an anti-gun citizen and that gives India some advantage.
16:03But as far as the strategy of India is concerned,
16:08Akshita, remember, there is a two-point strategy.
16:10One is the legal strategy and second is the diplomatic strategy
16:13because any extradition is possible only when you can prove the case beyond doubt
16:19before the court in that country.
16:21And second, it is also dependent on the diplomatic channels,
16:25the diplomatic relationship between both the countries.
16:28And what we have been given to understand is that
16:30the officials from the enforcement directorate
16:32as well as the Incentral Bureau of Investigation,
16:34they will be reaching Belgium to prepare the legal studies
16:37why Mehul Chokshi should not be given bail,
16:40why the extradition proceedings has to start in Belgium court.
16:45At this very same time, there are diplomatic channels
16:47which have been opened between the Indian authorities and Belgium authorities
16:51and these diplomatic channels will be talking about
16:54why Mehul Chokshi should be sent back to India as soon as possible.
16:59Akshita.
17:00You know, from what you've all been telling, Amin Manish,
17:03you know, we're all very optimistic, of course.
17:05After Tawur Rana, it could be Mehul Chokshi that he could be extradited very soon.
17:09It is going to be a long, legal, diplomatic process.
17:13It is not simple, clearly, and that's why Mehul Chokshi has managed
17:16to really evade Indian authorities for so long.
17:19Anisha, I want to bring you back in on this.
17:21There's been a lot of talk about that seven-day window
17:23and whether it actually helps India in any way.
17:26The fact that Mehul Chokshi's bail hearing comes up about next week in some days.
17:31He is going to, of course, have the best possible legal resources
17:34in Belgium available to him.
17:36He's going to make the most of the cash that he has,
17:39the money that he has to employ the best lawyers out there.
17:43Standing up against that is a mountain of evidence against him
17:45and the fact that he's been uncooperated with the agencies.
17:48Is that something that will work in the Belgian courts
17:50when his appeal is going to be on humanitarian grounds,
17:53which is how he sought the application to be there?
17:56Well, Akshita, you've really hit the nail on the head.
17:59Exactly that is the problem that the Indian authorities are going to be facing.
18:04Remember, when it comes to bail hearings,
18:06particularly in Europe, we've seen over the years
18:09that the question of humanitarian grounds,
18:11the question of whether the person whose extradition demand is being made
18:17will be safe or be given proper facilities in the Indian courts,
18:22that has been a question that has been asked earlier.
18:24Also, in the UK court, we've seen this issue come up.
18:27In the Sanjay Pandari case, in other cases also,
18:30that line of argument being taken by the accused person,
18:34by the fugitives, that if we are sent back,
18:37we will not be facing a fair trial
18:41or we will not be available to getting proper facilities
18:45or that our human rights will be effective.
18:49Now, India will have to very carefully counter those arguments,
18:53especially since Chokshi's lawyers have already taken this ground
18:59regarding his cancer treatments,
19:01regarding his current medical condition.
19:05It is going to be a long legal battle.
19:07This is something we need to remember,
19:09that the next seven days is time for our authorities
19:12to get a legal strategy in place
19:15to find the best lawyers to represent our country
19:18if we are given a chance in this procedure
19:22to argue in the court.
19:25Because first of all,
19:26the first hearing that will happen next week
19:29is going to be his challenge to the extradition
19:31and his challenge to the arrest.
19:33Whether or not India gets a chance
19:34to be represented before the court at this stage
19:37is something we'll have to see
19:39how this entire situation pans out.
19:42But this is not going to be a very easy fix.
19:44It is going to take time
19:45because of the money power,
19:47as Munish was also talking about.
19:48That's going to be a long-drawn process
19:50and a tough one at that.
19:52At best, India will be hoping to ensure
19:54that he remains in Belgian custody
19:56and at no point is allowed to move back to Antigua.
19:59That will be the worst case scenario for us.
20:02But why is it so crucial
20:03to ensure the arrest and extradition of Mehul Chokshi?
20:082018, I will take you back to 2018,
20:11which is when the Punjab National Bank scam
20:13came to the fore.
20:14This man, Mehul Chokshi,
20:16is accused in that scam
20:17along with his nephew, Nerov Modi,
20:19who, remember, is in a London jail currently.
20:22Mehul Chokshi and Nerov Modi
20:23have pulled off the biggest financial fraud
20:26this country has ever seen.
20:28We recap for you,
20:29what are the allegations
20:30against Chokshi and Nerov Modi?
20:32It is the second big coup
20:42for Indian law enforcement authorities
20:44in one week.
20:45Just days after 26-11 accused,
20:48Tahavud Rana was extradited to India.
20:50The Belgian police have arrested
20:52fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Chokshi.
20:56Chokshi is one of the prime accused
20:58in the 13,000 crore rupees PNB fraud scam.
21:02And is in Antwerp for medical treatment.
21:05The arrest in Belgium was made
21:07after the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate
21:09reactivated extradition requests,
21:11despite the removal of an Interpol red notice
21:14against Chokshi.
21:16As the founder and MD of Gitanjali,
21:18Gems, the former billionaire
21:19allegedly engineered a fraud
21:21over many years,
21:22which involved his nephew, Nerov Modi,
21:24currently in a London prison.
21:27The two used fake letters of undertakings
21:30and foreign letters of credit
21:31at PNB's Brady House branch
21:34in the Fort area of Mumbai.
21:36This was done in collusion
21:37with rogue employees of the branch.
21:40The financial documents were used
21:41to raise credit from overseas banks.
21:45Along with Nirav Modi,
21:46guarantees worth 11,400 crore rupees
21:49were raised to get loans.
21:51The funding, instead of being used
21:52for importing goods like pearls as claimed,
21:55were allegedly diverted and laundered.
21:57According to reports,
21:59the SWIFT network used across the world
22:01for online transfers
22:02was gamed by officials
22:04to keep the bank in the dark.
22:07However, the 65-year-old businessman
22:09has remained a step ahead of the law.
22:11He purchased citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda
22:16in 2017,
22:17a year before the scam came to light.
22:19The West Indian islands
22:21do not have an extradition treaty with India.
22:24He fled the country
22:25on the 2nd of January 2018,
22:27just days before the scam broke.
22:29In 2021,
22:31Choksi was arrested in Dominica,
22:33allegedly while attempting
22:33to flee to Cuba by boat.
22:35Authorities deported him
22:37back to Antigua,
22:39though rejecting India's extradition demands.
22:42In March 2023,
22:43India suffered yet another blow
22:45with the Interpol revoking
22:46the notice issued against Choksi.
22:49In 2024,
22:50Choksi moved to the diamond capital
22:51of the world,
22:52Antwerp, in Belgium.
22:54This was for the treatment
22:55of his blood cancer.
22:58He later secured
22:58permanent residency of Belgium.
23:01That did not stop Indian authorities
23:03from seeking his extradition again
23:04in an appeal
23:05which was heeded
23:06by the Belgian authorities
23:07and led to detaining him.
23:11Meanwhile,
23:12reports say
23:12that Choksi's bail application hearing
23:14will take place
23:15at least after one week,
23:16which gives India
23:17a crucial headroom
23:18to prepare
23:19not only a legal case,
23:20but a diplomatic one as well.
23:23Bureau Report,
23:24India Today Television.
23:30Mehul Choksi
23:31has finally been arrested
23:32in Belgium.
23:33Process is on
23:33to try and ensure
23:34his extradition.
23:36Now, while we've given you
23:36a recap of what really
23:38happened in 2018,
23:39it's not just Choksi
23:40but his entire family
23:42that's in one way
23:43or another
23:44involved in this scam.
23:45And let's break that down
23:46for you.
23:47Choksi is the son
23:48of Chinubai Choksi.
23:49So he essentially
23:50inherited
23:50the entire
23:52jewellery business
23:53that he's involved in.
23:54Mehul Choksi
23:55is married, of course,
23:56to Preeti Choksi
23:57who's a Belgian national.
23:58That's how he managed
23:59to get
23:59entry and residency.
24:01He's got a brother
24:02also Chetan Choksi
24:03who's also
24:04under investigation.
24:06Take this quickly
24:06back to Preeti Choksi
24:07who, remember,
24:08is also involved
24:09in this case.
24:10Offshore shelf firms,
24:12money was rooted
24:13with some of the firms
24:14that were named
24:14to her.
24:16Then you've got
24:16Nina Seth,
24:17an aunt who's linked
24:18to Voyager brands.
24:21Nirav Modi
24:22is, of course,
24:23the nephew
24:24of Mehul Choksi.
24:25He's a prime accused
24:26currently in a London jail.
24:28It's not just Nirav.
24:29Nirav's brother,
24:30Nihal Modi,
24:31again a nephew
24:32of Mehul Choksi,
24:33has been accused
24:34of laundering,
24:35accused of evidence
24:36destruction as well.
24:38So many of the names
24:39that come up
24:39in this family
24:40were involved
24:41in the family business
24:42and also involved
24:43in the racket
24:44on the financial fraud,
24:45money laundering,
24:46corruption.
24:47There are multiple
24:47allegations against
24:48each of them.
24:49Mehul Choksi's children
24:51themselves live abroad.
24:52They're involved
24:53in different companies
24:54and they're not named
24:55directly in this
24:56particular case.
24:58But we spoke about
24:59Preeti Choksi,
25:00Mehul Choksi's wife.
25:01How was she involved
25:02in this entire case?
25:04Offshore firms.
25:05So the money trail
25:06of the proceeds of crime
25:07linked her directly
25:09in this entire case.
25:10How exactly?
25:11Well, she's in fact
25:12the owner of a company
25:13called Hillington Holdings Limited.
25:16Now there are several
25:16names that you see here.
25:17One is UAE-based
25:18Kitanjali Group
25:19As you know,
25:20Mehul Choksi was
25:21the MD of Kitanjali Group.
25:23This was a dummy company,
25:25UAE-based Kitanjali Group.
25:26Dummy company
25:27of which
25:28600,000 dirhams
25:30was transferred.
25:31Now,
25:32another dummy company
25:33is Goldhawk
25:34DMMC.
25:36Three immovable properties
25:37again in the
25:38United Arab Emirates
25:39worth crores
25:41was again
25:42attached to
25:43this particular company,
25:44found to be
25:44a dummy company.
25:46Then you had
25:46Magnus Consultancy,
25:48another dummy company.
25:49What was the point
25:49of all this?
25:50Well, essentially
25:51money would be rooted
25:52by Priti Choksi
25:53through this company
25:54which she claimed to own.
25:55It would be spread across
25:56as we've showed you there,
25:58money being transferred,
25:59property being linked
26:00and then all of it
26:01would directly go
26:02to Mehul Choksi
26:03who is the actual
26:04controller
26:05and owner.
26:06This is in fact
26:07what we've picked up
26:08from our sources
26:09in the Enforcement Directorate
26:10who've explained to us
26:11that this is how
26:12proceeds of crime
26:13was transferred
26:13to Mehul Choksi
26:15repeatedly.
26:16So there's an investigation
26:17against Priti Choksi
26:18as well.
26:18She's wanted to
26:19for being a part
26:20of these entire
26:22shell companies
26:22offshore money laundering
26:24entities.
26:25Now, what's important
26:26to highlight here
26:27is that the reason
26:28we're talking about
26:29Mehul Choksi's
26:30arrest,
26:30extradition right now
26:32and the fact that
26:32he's been arrested
26:33is because India
26:34actively has been
26:36following up
26:36on where Choksi is.
26:38Essentially,
26:39Mehul Choksi
26:39used his wife's
26:41Belgian documents,
26:42the fact that she's
26:42a Belgian national
26:43to get this
26:45residency card.
26:46There are two types
26:47of residency in Belgium,
26:48F and F+.
26:49What he got,
26:51what Mehul Choksi
26:51got was F residency
26:53which is residency
26:54a spouse of citizen.
26:55But here's the catch,
26:56Mehul Choksi
26:57actually gave fake
26:58documents to ensure
26:59that he secures
27:00this residency.
27:01Why fake documents?
27:02Because he's a citizen
27:03of India,
27:04he's also a citizen
27:04of Antigua
27:05and so to go ahead
27:06and get residency
27:07in Belgium
27:07would have been difficult.
27:08So he put out
27:09fake documents
27:10that didn't reveal
27:10these details.
27:12Choksi then also
27:13applied for a PR card,
27:15F1 residency
27:16that I was referring
27:16to,
27:17F plus rather.
27:18Choksi applied
27:19for a PR card
27:20in Belgium.
27:21But the moment
27:21this application
27:22went through,
27:23India immediately
27:24swooped in
27:25and alerted Belgium
27:26against Choksi's
27:28application.
27:28They cited the fact
27:29that he is a citizen
27:30of India,
27:31that he hasn't
27:32given that up.
27:32He's a citizen
27:33of Antigua,
27:34hasn't given that up
27:35either.
27:35So they essentially
27:36showed the spotlight
27:37on how he was
27:38trying to pull off
27:39another fraud
27:40in Belgium.
27:42Essentially,
27:43the reason India
27:43did this
27:44is because
27:45if he gets
27:46that PR card,
27:47it makes extradition
27:48extremely difficult.
27:49Much like what
27:50we've been seeing
27:51in Antigua
27:51where India
27:52has not been able
27:52to pull out Choksi.
27:54If he gets a PR card
27:55in Belgium,
27:55again,
27:56impossible for India
27:57to step in.
27:58So after India
27:59alerted the Belgian
28:00authorities
28:00that look,
28:01this man has
28:02submitted fake documents,
28:03Belgium immediately
28:04shot down Choksi's
28:06request for a PR card
28:07and that was
28:07the biggest
28:08setback for him
28:09because he was
28:09counting on using
28:10that to then go
28:11to Switzerland
28:12as well.
28:13And let me bring
28:14in Divyesh Singh
28:14for more on that.
28:16Divyesh,
28:16you know,
28:17it was because
28:17of immediate
28:18intervention by
28:19Indian authorities
28:20that Mehul Choksi
28:21didn't get away.
28:22It would have been
28:23near impossible
28:24for us to nab him
28:25if he got that PR card,
28:26that F-plus
28:27residency,
28:28citizenship
28:29in Belgium
28:30and then went
28:31to Switzerland.
28:31Well,
28:36here,
28:36Saksita,
28:37I'll just like to
28:38break this
28:39on the bulletin.
28:40We've just got
28:41hold of a document.
28:42I would like to
28:43show it over the screen.
28:45This is the
28:46medical certificate.
28:48Certificate
28:48which reads as
28:49that Mehul Choksi
28:51suffered from
28:52leukemia
28:52and is unable
28:54to move
28:55till August
28:5631,
28:572024.
28:59And after that,
29:00he can
29:01after that
29:02particular period,
29:03he can move
29:04from his residence.
29:05Now,
29:06this is
29:07an exclusive document
29:08which India
29:09today has got
29:09hold of
29:10and this
29:11same document
29:12was submitted
29:13in a Mumbai
29:14court as well
29:15where
29:15fugitive economic
29:17offenders proceedings
29:18were going on
29:19against Mehul Choksi.
29:21Now,
29:21this is the document
29:22from Antwerp
29:23hospital
29:23where
29:24Mehul Choksi
29:25is undergoing
29:27treatment right now
29:28or was undergoing
29:29treatment before
29:30his arrest.
29:30this is the
29:32same doctor,
29:33this is from
29:34the same hospital,
29:35it reads as
29:36medical certificate
29:37and
29:38Mehul Choksi
29:40is undergoing
29:40treatment for
29:41leukemia
29:42and
29:43he cannot,
29:46there is no
29:46100%
29:47movement
29:48of him
29:49till
29:5031st of
29:51August
29:512024
29:52which was
29:53challenged
29:53by the
29:53enforcement
29:55directorate
29:55and citing
29:56this document
29:57as fake
29:58and fictitious
29:59that the
30:00doctor allows
30:01you to move
30:02outside his
30:03residence
30:03but not
30:04outside the
30:04country.
30:05ED had
30:06challenged
30:06and ED had
30:07sent the
30:08extradition request
30:09to Belgian
30:10authorities.
30:11Following that
30:11request,
30:12he has been
30:12arrested.
30:13Again,
30:13the details
30:14regarding his
30:15F residency
30:17permit which
30:18he has got
30:18through his
30:19spouse
30:19Preeti Choksi
30:20has also
30:21been challenged
30:22stating that
30:23he has not
30:23renounced his
30:24citizenship in
30:25India,
30:25he has not
30:26renounced his
30:26citizenship in
30:27Antigua,
30:28then how can
30:29he get a
30:30residency
30:30citizenship
30:31in Belgium?
30:33So,
30:33that also,
30:34there also
30:35he has made
30:36use of
30:36fake and
30:37forged documents
30:38and this
30:39all has been
30:39taken into
30:40consideration
30:41by the
30:41Belgian
30:42authorities
30:42who have
30:43placed him
30:44under
30:44provisional
30:45arrest.
30:45Akshita.
30:47Alright,
30:48Divesh,
30:48thanks very
30:48much for
30:49joining us
30:49with that
30:50exclusive
30:50news break
30:51as well,
30:51showing the
30:51medical
30:52certificate
30:52which we'll
30:53put out
30:53in greater
30:54detail
30:54in a while
30:55which confirms
30:56that yes,
30:57Mehul Choksi
30:57has leukemia
30:58but also
30:59highlights a
30:59certain timeline
31:00saying he
31:01can't travel
31:01for those
31:02many days.
31:03But with
31:03the arrest
31:04of Mehul Choksi,
31:06every time we
31:06talk of
31:07financial fraudsters
31:08there are
31:08three names
31:09that come up,
31:09Mehul Choksi
31:10one of them.
31:11What about
31:11the others?
31:12Let's get
31:12you a quick
31:12status check
31:13about them
31:14as well
31:14because there's
31:15been a
31:15growing chorus
31:16for them
31:16to be
31:17extradited.
31:18One of
31:19Jemalia,
31:19bank looter
31:20number one,
31:21currently in
31:22fact in the
31:23UK out on
31:25bail,
31:25accused of
31:26willfully
31:26defaulting on
31:28loans up to
31:289,000 crore
31:29rupees.
31:30So there have
31:30been attempts
31:31to bring him
31:32back as well.
31:33Nirav Modi,
31:34Mehul Choksi's
31:35nephew,
31:35bank looter
31:36number two,
31:37accused of
31:37cheating the
31:38Punjab National
31:39Bank of
31:396,498 crores.
31:43Nirav Modi is
31:44currently in
31:44a London jail.
31:46His repeated
31:46appeals and
31:47pleas for bail
31:48have been
31:49shot down
31:50but extradition
31:51could take
31:52a while
31:52longer.
31:52Then you have
31:53Mehul Choksi
31:54accused in
31:55the same scam
31:55as his nephew
31:56Nirav Modi,
31:57accused of
31:58defrauding the
31:58Punjab National
31:59Bank of
31:5913,000 crores.
32:01Arrested in
32:01Belgium,
32:02we'll have to
32:03see if it's
32:03extradition next.
32:05These are the
32:05three men
32:06wanted in
32:06India,
32:07synonymous
32:07with financial
32:08fraud,
32:09all abroad
32:10currently,
32:10who India is
32:11pushing for
32:12extradition.
32:12We seem to be
32:13a step closer
32:14to at least
32:14getting this
32:15man back.
32:15Let's put the
32:16focus really
32:17on the
32:17Karnataka
32:18CAST
32:18Census
32:19showdown.
32:20Now you
32:20had a
32:21commission
32:21submitting a
32:22report which
32:23will be taken
32:23up by the
32:24state cabinet
32:24on 17th
32:25April.
32:26If implemented,
32:27this proposal
32:28could raise
32:28total reservation
32:29in the state
32:30to 85%.
32:32That's right,
32:33Karnataka could
32:33see reservation
32:34right up to
32:3585%.
32:36And this of
32:37course will
32:37see a rise
32:38in quota for
32:39OBCs as well
32:40as for
32:41Muslims.
32:42But even
32:43before the
32:43meeting,
32:44a political
32:44showdown
32:44has erupted
32:45as the
32:45Congress
32:46accused the
32:46BGP of
32:47opposing any
32:48form of
32:48census or
32:49survey aimed
32:50at empowering
32:50SCSD
32:51communities.
32:52But today,
32:52you had
32:53Prime Minister
32:53Modi also
32:54accusing the
32:55Congress of
32:55snatching OBC
32:56quota benefits
32:57and handing
32:58them over to
32:59the Muslim
32:59community.
33:00And therefore,
33:01he said that
33:01the Congress
33:02has betrayed
33:03the SCSD
33:04OBC
33:04communities.
33:06Now there
33:06is a huge
33:07divide in
33:07Karnataka
33:08where all of
33:08this talk of
33:09a caste census
33:10and a rejig
33:11of the
33:11reservation.
33:12The Lingayats
33:13are up in
33:14arms.
33:14A prominent
33:15CEO of the
33:15Lingayat
33:16community has
33:16slammed the
33:17process,
33:17alleging that
33:18there is a
33:18lack of
33:18transparency and
33:20claiming that
33:20the caste count
33:21has been
33:22fudged.
33:23Here are some
33:23of the reactions
33:24coming in and
33:25then we will
33:25break down for
33:26you what the
33:26proposed reservation
33:27looks like.
33:28Now you
33:31have to
33:31listen to
33:33the
33:33government.
33:33I will
33:35listen to
33:35Karnataka
33:36Congress
33:37has
33:37in
33:38Tender
33:40�빈 मैं भी कि अब ez सी यो भी सी के अधिकार चीन करके कि धर्म के आधार पर आरक्षण
33:50दे दिया कि जब की सम्विधान में है कि बाबा साव आम्वेकरने साप साप सब्सक्राइब
34:00कि इस सम्मिधान में कतई धर्म के आधार पर आरक्षन की विवस्ता नहीं की जाएगी और हमारे सम्मिधान ने धर्म के आधार पर आरक्षन के लिए प्रतिबंक लगाया हुआ है
34:22साथियों कॉंग्रेस की तुष्टी करण की इस नीती का बहुत बड़ा नुक्षान
34:31मुस्लिम समाज को भी हुआ है
34:35कॉंग्रेस ने सुर्फ कुछ कट्टर पंथियों को ही खुश किया है
34:43बाकी समाज बेहाल रहा असिक्षित रहा गरीब रहा
34:53first of all whether state government has the state government has powers to do this caste census
35:04secondly there are a lot of differences within the ruling congress government lot of cabinet
35:12colleagues cabinet ministers there themselves have expressed displeasure regarding this caste
35:21census so let's wait and watch because this issue has been discussed on humpty number of
35:28occasions by chief minister Sridharamaya himself
35:31are the only tari ko arko skra chetche maadli ko skra cabinet meeting in a dunday subject it
35:39good kardidi ali chetche marti we chetche maadad miller maatak
35:44the BJP has always been in the habit of opposing any census or any survey that might empower the
35:53backward classes or the schedule class of the schedule tribes they seem to they're always of the problem
35:58have a problem with such commissions whether it was half noor commission or any other commission
36:02and now also they have a problem with this but whether it is any other share opposing it or
36:09anything we don't know what is there in the cost census in the economic socio-economic survey let
36:15it be studied let it be put for public debate and then we can take a call why this hurry of rejecting a
36:20report that has not even been duly understood
36:27dm
36:38rf
36:40...
36:43...
36:46...
36:50...
36:55...
36:58...
37:00...
37:03...
37:06...
37:12...
37:14...
37:16...
37:18...
37:20...
37:21So what exactly is the proposal with regards to the reservation in Karnataka based on what the Car Census Commission has put forth?
37:30Let's break it down for you. What the changes will be. The current OBC quota stands at 32%.
37:3532%. What in fact the commission has recommended is that that amount be increased and be made
37:4151%. So for OBCs from 32%, the commission says let's bring it to 51%. Muslim quota. Now this
37:49commission has also referred to population numbers and says that the Muslim quota numbers also have
37:53gone up. So from 4%, it's gone up to 8%. This is a proposal mind you, which the commission has put
38:00forth. So this makes the total proposed reservation in Karnataka if the recommendations are taken
38:06forward by the Karnataka cabinet. It will be a whopping 85% because of the increase in the
38:11Muslim quota, because of the increase in the OBC quota as well. 85% will be the reservation
38:17in Karnataka if the suggestions are taken forth. So what's the reason the panel has given for
38:22proposing that there be such a big rise in the OBC quota and a double in the Muslim quota as well?
38:28Well, they've said that the population of backward classes in Karnataka is at nearly 70%. And so
38:35they're saying that that number has grown, but the reservation percentage, the quota hasn't grown.
38:41According to the panel, half of the population in Karnataka is not covered by reservation. So
38:47they're saying that changing those numbers from a 32% to 51% and from a 4% to 8% will ensure that
38:54this equitable distribution of benefits, which according to the panel, the commission isn't
38:59happening right now. It's these three reasons that have been stated by the Karnataka Cast Census
39:05Commission to say that, look, we need to change the reservation right now, in which case a state like
39:11Karnataka could see 85% of reservation. And then it's a whole other debate whether it will stand the
39:16scrutiny off the coast.
39:19All right, let's get your details now of the Prime Minister's message on freedom fighter,
39:25C. Shankaran Nair. You must have heard of his name by now. He's been making headlines so many
39:30decades on after what he contributed to the nation. Remember, he had fought a legal war against the
39:35British Empire after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Speaking in Yamunagar of Haryana, Prime Minister
39:40Modi praised Nair's endeavor to seek justice for civilians killed on the orders of British General
39:46Dyer. Prime Minister Modi said every child in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal must know about Shankaran
39:52Nair. Important to highlight that this message from the Prime Minister, and there's been a lot of
39:56politics over this, it's coming at a time and the film Kayseri 2 is based on Shankaran Nair's legal
40:02fight against the British and will be releasing very soon.
40:14कल देश ने वैशा की का पर्व मनाया है कल ही जलियाँ वाला बाग हत्याकान के भी 106 वर्ष हुए है इस हत्याकान में अपनी जान गवाने वालों की स्मृत्यां आज भी हमारे साथ है
40:39जलियाँ वाला हत्याकान में शहुद हुए देश भक्तों और अंग्रेजों की कुर्टा के अलावा एक और पहलू है
40:52जिसे पूरी तरा अंधरे में डाल दिया गया था ये पहलू मानवता के साथ देश के साथ खड़े होने के बुलंद जजबे का है
41:14Okay, let's move on. On Super 6, we did tell you also about Superstar Salman Khan getting another death threat.
41:25Salman Khan has been issued another threat after almost a year since multiple drones were fired outside his Bandra residence.
41:33This time the threat came via a WhatsApp message.
41:36It was sent to the Mumbai's Transport Department in Worli, warning of killing the Superstar by entering his house.
41:42And then the message also warned that his car will be blown up with a bomb.
41:47Following the incident, a case has been registered against an unidentified individual at the Worli Police Station.
41:53Investigations are on to find out the source and the authenticity of the threat.
41:58Security has been also increased outside the 59-year-old actor's residence.
42:04Bollywood dabang actor Salman Khan received a threat once again.
42:08And this time he received a threat through Mumbai Police WhatsApp number.
42:14After which Mumbai's Worli Police Station had registered an FIR.
42:18And right now we are at outside Galaxy apartment where Salman Khan stays with his family.
42:24As you can see, this is not the first time when Salman Khan has received a threat like this.
42:30In the past also Salman has received a serious threat after which the security has been beefed up by the Mumbai Police.
42:36Salman Khan is also taking various precautions regarding his security.
42:41This is the first floor where Salman stays.
42:45And here the bulletproof glasses have been put up by Salman Khan.
42:52And he is also carrying his own weapon.
42:55He took a license from the Mumbai Police for that weapon.
42:58And he is carrying that weapon for his security reasons.
43:01With camera person Sahil Chawan, this is Dipesh Tripathi for India Today, Mumbai.
43:05Today, the traffic control of the world's office, Abhinata Salman Khan, a message of Abhinata Salman Khan, a message of the world's office.
43:12And we have made a threat to the world's office.
43:13And we have made a threat to the world's office in 351, 203.
43:14And we have made a threat to the world's office.
43:16And we will continue.
43:17All right, let's also talk about the historic mission, space mission of an all-women crew
43:26that's all set to blast off into space aboard Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin spacecraft.
43:32These are the latest images because we're just moments away from launch
43:35where the women dressed in their blue rather stylish spacesuits are being driven by Jeff Bezos himself.
43:42Remember that on board this particular spacecraft is also Jeff Bezos' fiancée, Laurence Sanchez.
43:48This is the moment where you also had Katy Perry ringing the bell as she made her way to enter into the spacecraft.
43:54There are questions about whether Katy Perry will script history as being the first singer who will get a chance to sing on space.
44:00But this is the moment when you had Katy Perry going ahead and making her way closer to the launch pod.
44:05You also have Laurence Sanchez right behind her and then Jeff Bezos as well.
44:09The entire mission, interestingly, is just going to be 11 minutes where roughly about four minutes,
44:16the six all-women crew will get a chance to be in space.
44:20Let's get you, in fact, our next report.
44:22I'm leaving you with that, but we're going to be continuing to get you all of these images of this historic moment
44:27of an all-women crew going up into space.
44:31These women are ready for blast-off.
44:44An all-women space crew is hours away from launch.
44:48Six women are all suited up and ready to conquer space,
44:51including singing sensation Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos' fiancée Laurence Sanchez.
44:58I like it.
44:59Okay, go see if she likes it.
45:03Oh, on this side.
45:15Well, they're comfortable.
45:17Okay, that's for sure.
45:18The six-women squad will be on board Bezos' Blue Origin spacecraft
45:24and will spend about 10 minutes in space.
45:28Joining Katy Perry and Laurence Sanchez are journalist Gayle King,
45:32former NASA scientist Aisha Bowe,
45:35civil rights activist Amanda Nugent,
45:37and movie producer Carrie-Anne Flynn.
45:39These superwomen have been based in Texas for the last few days for their space training,
45:45as they're all set to script history as the first all-women crew.
45:49The last time an all-women squad was in space was actually a solo mission
45:53by Soviet-era cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963.
45:58Singer Katy Perry has expressed excitement
46:01as she's been counting down on social media to this moment.
46:05We have been training in for the last few days.
46:10Here I am, seat number two.
46:14My mom calls me two nicknames, Feather and Tortoise.
46:22What are the chances that I'm going to space
46:26on a rocket, in a capsule,
46:30with my symbol, the Feather,
46:33called Tortoise?
46:36Okay, I'm going to show you
46:38the capsule that we...
46:43Perry also showed us a glimpse of the capsule
46:45she and the rest of the all-women squad will be travelling in.
46:50Seat number two.
46:54This is my call name, Feather.
46:57Here on the new shepherd.
47:01I think I'm going to sing.
47:02I'm going to sing a little bit.
47:04I've got to sing in space.
47:06Looking dashing in their blue spacesuits,
47:09which has been designed by renowned designer Mons,
47:12the women are all set to jet off.
47:15Each seat on board a Blue Origin spacecraft
47:17reportedly costs a whopping $150,000 deposit per seat.
47:23The NS-31 mission will last around 11 minutes,
47:26reaching a height of approximately 65 miles above Earth.
47:30Although they won't technically enter orbit,
47:32they will surpass the Kaman Line,
47:34the internationally recognised boundary
47:37between Earth's atmosphere and outer space.
47:40Bureau Report, India Today.