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Born in India — Business / finance / tech

Mehul Choksi

Business and billionaires

Documented profile covering 10 controversies, including “Antigua and Barbuda citizenship obtained in 2017: Controversy over due diligence checks” and “Punjab National Bank case: Two CBI charge sheets for alleged bank fraud”.

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Profile No. 2235 · Updated on 12 October 2026

10Documented controversies
17Sources
2Formal charges · all time1 pending · 1 closed without conviction
0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

Case · 3 documented stages

Punjab National Bank case: Two CBI charge sheets for alleged bank fraud

Formally charged
01

2018–2026

Punjab National Bank case: Two CBI charge sheets for alleged bank fraud

Formally charged

On 15 February 2018, the CBI registered a case against Mehul Choksi and others concerning alleged fraud against Punjab National Bank and filed two charge sheets, notably alleging criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, deception, falsification of accounts and offences under anti-corruption legislation.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 1

  1. [1]
    Press Information Bureau / CBIActions initiated by the CBI related to INTERPOL’s Red Notice against Mehul Chinubhai ChoksiOfficial documentVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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03

2025-04–2026-09

Belgium: Arrest in 2025 and extradition proceedings still ongoing in September 2026

Formally charged

Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium in April 2025 at India's request and remains detained. In August 2026, Belgian authorities indicated that the opinion delivered in April by the Antwerp indictment chamber was advisory and that the extradition decision remained under consideration. On 3 September, India's Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that he was still in a Belgian prison and that cooperation was continuing.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Hindustan TimesFugitive Mehul Choksi's extradition to India stalled as Belgian govt says case ‘still under examination’PressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Tribune / ANI“Committed to ensuring that fugitives are brought back to India”: MEA on queries related to Mehul ChoksiNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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06

2018–2023

INTERPOL: Red Notice removed in 2022–2023, contested by CBI

Formally charged

An INTERPOL Red Notice requested by India had been issued in December 2018. INTERPOL's Commission for the Control of Files subsequently decided to delete the notice, communicating the decision to Indian authorities in late 2022; it became public in 2023. The CBI challenged the decision and requested its review or reinstatement.

Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Press Information Bureau / CBIActions initiated by the CBI related to INTERPOL’s Red Notice against Mehul Chinubhai ChoksiOfficial documentVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    The Indian ExpressSetback for CBI, Interpol drops notice against Mehul ChoksiPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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02

2022–2026

Five additional CBI cases in 2022 for alleged fraud against banks and financial institutions

Investigation

In 2022, the CBI registered five additional cases against Mehul Choksi and others for alleged fraud against banks and financial institutions. These cases are separate from the original 2018 PNB case.

Attribution
Accused

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Press Information Bureau / CBIActions initiated by the CBI related to INTERPOL’s Red Notice against Mehul Chinubhai ChoksiOfficial documentVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    The Indian ExpressExplained: Why Interpol notice against Mehul Choksi was withdrawnPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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04

2018–2026-09-09

Application for Fugitive Economic Offender declaration: Decision reserved in September 2026

Civil / administrative proceedings

The Enforcement Directorate applied as early as 2018 to have him declared a 'Fugitive Economic Offender'. Following several years of litigation, the Mumbai special court concluded the hearings and reserved its decision on 8 September 2026. As of 14 September 2026, no reliable source identified warrants presenting him as already declared an FEO in this case.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Free Press JournalMehul Choksi Fugitive Economic Offender Plea: Special Court Reserves Order After Rejecting Further DelayPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    Bombay High Court via Indian KanoonMehul Choksi vs The State Of Maharashtra And Anr on 21 September, 2023Court decisionVery high reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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05

2017–2023

Antigua and Barbuda citizenship obtained in 2017: Controversy over due diligence checks

Civil / administrative proceedings

Mehul Choksi obtained Antigua and Barbuda citizenship through the citizenship-by-investment programme in 2017, before the PNB case became public. In 2018, the Antiguan citizenship unit stated that it had received an Indian police certificate containing no adverse information and had carried out its checks. The procedure subsequently became the subject of intense controversy and contested revocation efforts.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Antigua Observer / Citizenship By Investment UnitCIU puts Choksi 'facts' on the tableOfficial statementVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    The Indian ExpressTen months before he fled, Mehul Choksi got Mumbai passport office OK for AntiguaPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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07

2022-01

SEBI 2022: One-year ban and personal fine of 1.5 crore for insider trading

Civil / administrative proceedings

In early 2022, SEBI barred Mehul Choksi from the market for one year and imposed a fine of 1.5 crore rupees in proceedings concerning breaches of Gitanjali Gems insider-trading rules.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Securities and Exchange Board of IndiaFinal Order in the matter of Gitanjali Gems LimitedRegulatory authorityVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Business Standard / PTIGitanjali Gems case: Sebi bans Mehul Choksi, another individual from mktsNews agencyHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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08

2022-10-31

SEBI 2022: Ten-year ban and 5-crore fine for manipulation of Gitanjali Gems shares

Civil / administrative proceedings

On 31 October 2022, SEBI barred Mehul Choksi from the securities market for ten years and fined him 5 crore rupees. The regulator concluded that he had used and financed front entities to create a false or misleading appearance of trading in Gitanjali Gems shares.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Securities and Exchange Board of IndiaOrder in the matter of Gitanjali Gems Ltd - Mehul C. ChoksiRegulatory authorityVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    Business StandardSebi bans Mehul Choksi from securities market for 10 years, fines Rs 5 crPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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09

2021–2022

Dominica: Illegal-entry prosecution dropped; abduction alleged by Choksi

Case dismissed / dropped

Following his disappearance from Antigua and Barbuda and his injured appearance in Dominica in May 2021, Mehul Choksi was prosecuted for illegal entry. Dominica's Director of Public Prosecutions formally discontinued the proceedings in May 2022. Choksi claims he was abducted and forcibly transferred to Dominica.

Course of the proceedings
  1. Formally charged — Formal charge before the current outcome

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Dominica News OnlineProsecution dismisses illegal entry case against Mehul ChoksiPressHigh reliability
  2. [2]
    The Indian ExpressRelief for PNB scam accused Choksi as Dominica drops casePressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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10

2020

SEBI 2020: Sanctions over Gitanjali Gems' breaches of listing and market regulations

Civil / administrative proceedings

In February 2020, SEBI sanctioned Mehul Choksi, Gitanjali Gems and another official for several regulatory violations, including breaches of listing and disclosure requirements. The total penalties announced in this matter reached 5 crore rupees.

State of the evidence
Documented
Attribution
Directly implicated

Sources · 2

  1. [1]
    Securities and Exchange Board of IndiaAdjudication order in the matter of Gitanjali Gems LimitedRegulatory authorityVery high reliability
  2. [2]
    The Indian ExpressSebi attaches bank, demat, MF accounts of Mehul Choksi to recover duesPressHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 September 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

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