ED files chargesheet against Choksi’s wife in the PNB case
NEW DELHI: The ED has pressed charges against Priti Choksi, wife of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, saying that she was the ultimate beneficiary of certain offshore companies used for routing and parking of funds obtained by the couple by cheating Punjab National Bank.
Along with Priti, the agency has again named Mehul Choksi, the duo’s three companies — Gitanjali Gems, Gili India and Nakshatra Brand — and Gokulnath Shetty, former employee at the state-owned PNB, in the latest charge sheet, the third so far under the prevention of money laundering act. The fresh charge sheet was filed in a Mumbai court in March, but was kept under wraps, according to officials who didn’t want to be named. Two earlier charge sheets were filed in June 2018 and April 2020.
The new charges against Priti Choksi will allow investigating agencies to pursue her extradition from Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean country where she fled with her husband after acquiring citizenship in 2017, as well as issue an Interpol red corner notice against her.
After Mehul Choksi went missing from Antigua on May 23 last year, only to be found in Dominica the next day, Priti Choksi claimed in an interview to HT that her husband was abducted and tortured by Indian agents. She has been vocal in targeting the Indian government, claiming her husband cannot return as he will be kept hostage. Dominica last month dropped illegal entry proceedings against Mehul Choksi based on a report by Antiguan Royal Police, which confirmed the businessman was indeed abducted from the country, HT had reported.
ED has been probing Priti Choksi’s role for a long time, as she was involved in running some suspected shell companies, and was aware of her husband’s criminal activities. ED’s third charge sheet, seen by HT, says that Priti Choksi, also known as Priti Pradyotkumar Kothari, was the ultimate beneficial owner of three companies – including Hillingdon Holdings and Charing Cross Holdings in the UAE.
Hillingdon was incorporated by Priti and Dion Lillywhite (an employee of US-based Gitanjali Group company and dummy director in some of the group companies) and the sole shareholder of Goldhawk DMCC (previously named Diminico DMCC).
Hillingdon owns three properties having total area of over 5,100 sq ft in the UNited Arab Emirates worth over ₹22 crore, according to the charge sheet.
“Priti Choksi was fully aware that the companies – Hillingdon Holdings Ltd, Goldhawk DMCC and Asian Diamond Jewellery UAE 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 charge sheet says.
“She has helped Mehul Choksi in layering of proceeds of crime and was hand in glove with him getting incorporated companies for laundering and siphoning of proceeds of crime,” it adds.