I-T dept confiscates benami properties linked to Choksi

The Income Tax (I-T) department has confiscated at least 52 land plots in Nashik and three office properties allegedly linked to fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, a key accused in the Rs 13,500crore Punjab National Bank scam case. Choksi is the uncle of main accused Nirav Modi who is in prison in the UK.

Choksi had gone missing from Antigua on May 23 last year after going out for dinner and was soon caught in Dominica. He was charged with illegal entry by the police in Dominica after he allegedly escaped from Antigua and Barbuda in a possible attempt to evade extradition to India.

According to I-T sources, the Mumbai Benami Unit of the I-T department had filed a miscellaneous application before the adjudicating authority for confiscation of benami property and entities linked to him.

The agency sources have stated that the adjudicating authority has passed an order for confiscation under sections 27(1) (confiscation

and vesting of benami property) of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act.

“After the confiscation order was confirmed by the adjudicating authority in February this year, we had started the process of taking over the possession of benami properties and entities linked to Choksi,” said an I-T source.

He added, “There are 52 plots of land in Nashik and three office spaces in Bandra-Kurla Complex and there is cash amounting to Rs 65.86 lakh, which has been confiscated.” The official said that confiscation of physical property other than cash has been done for the first time in India.