Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, wanted in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, has reportedly failed to pay maintenance charges amounting to around Rs 63 lakh for his property in Gokul Apartments, located in the upscale Malabar Hill area of Mumbai. The revelation was made by a member of the housing society, as quoted by news agency ANI on Monday.
According to the society member, Choksi owns three units in the building, occupying the 9th, 10th, and 11th floors. It was alleged that the 11th floor is a terrace area, which Choksi has illegally occupied. He has not paid maintenance dues for over seven years, and the total amount without interest stands at approximately Rs 63 lakh. Additionally, the society undertook major renovation work in 2020, costing Rs 30-35 lakh per unit, which brings the total financial burden related to Choksi’s units to around Rs 95 lakh.
The member further raised concerns about vegetation growing unchecked inside the flat. “Big trees have started growing in the flat, and the roots could damage the structural integrity of the building,” he said, noting that the society is being forced to bear the consequences of Choksi’s negligence.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier attached the property as part of the ongoing legal proceedings. The ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are pursuing Choksi in connection with the Rs 13,850 crore PNB fraud case. Investigators allege that between 2014 and 2017, Choksi and his associates conspired with certain PNB officials to fraudulently obtain letters of undertaking (LoUs) and foreign letters of credit, resulting in a loss of Rs 6,097.63 crore to the bank.
On April 12, Belgian authorities confirmed Choksi’s arrest and stated that he is currently in detention. India has submitted an extradition request along with two open-ended arrest warrants, issued by a special Mumbai court in 2018 and 2021, to the Belgian Federal Public Service of Justice.
So far, the ED has attached or seized assets worth Rs 2,565.90 crore belonging to Choksi. The court has granted permission for the monetisation of these properties, in a bid to recover losses and pursue justice in the high-profile financial fraud case.
