Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, has reportedly defaulted on maintenance payments amounting to approximately Rs 63 lakh for his properties in Gokul Apartments, located in Mumbai’s upscale Malabar Hill area. The information was shared by a member of the housing society and reported by news agency ANI. According to the society member, Choksi owns three units in the building – located on the 9th, 10th, and 11th floors. He is said to have illegally occupied the terrace on the 11th floor and has not paid maintenance charges for over seven years.
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“He has three units and hasn’t paid maintenance for seven years. The total dues stand at around Rs 63 lakh without interest. In 2020, renovation work was undertaken in the building, and the cost per unit was Rs 30-35 lakh. For all three units, it adds up to about Rs 95 lakh,” the member stated.
The society has also raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of the flats, revealing that large trees have started growing inside, which pose a risk to the structural integrity of the building. “This is an additional burden we are forced to bear. We trust the Indian legal system and hope we will recover the dues,” the member added.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had previously attached the property as part of ongoing investigations into the massive financial scam. Meanwhile, in a significant development, Belgium’s Federal Public Service of Justice confirmed on April 12 that Choksi had been arrested and is currently in detention. Indian authorities have officially submitted an extradition request to bring him back to face trial. At least two non-bailable arrest warrants, issued by a special Mumbai court in 2018 and 2021, have been sent to Belgian authorities in support of the extradition request, according to sources.
Choksi, now 65, fled India on January 2, 2018. He is wanted by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED in connection with a Rs 13,850 crore fraud involving the Punjab National Bank. Investigators allege that, between 2014 and 2017, Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi and some PNB officials, fraudulently obtained Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and foreign Letters of Credit, resulting in a loss of Rs 6,097.63 crore to the bank. To date, the ED has attached or seized assets worth Rs 2,565.90 crore in the case. The court has authorized the monetisation of these properties to recover the defrauded funds.