Scam accused Mehul Choksi tells CBI “impossible” to return, please email

Gitanjali Group promoter Mehul Choksi, accused of involvement in the ₹12,600 crore fraud against the Punjab National Bank (PNB), has said it was "impossible" for him to return to India, citing health reasons and suspension of his passport.

In a March 7 dated letter emailed to the Central Bureau of Investigation, one of the lead agencies probing the alleged fraud, Choksi criticised the investigation process, alleging gross abuse law that had caused prejudice against him, his family and businesses.

Choksi was summoned by the CBI to appear before it on March 7. He said he was travelling "abroad for my business" and had embarked on the journey before the probe agency filed an FIR against him.

"I wish to bring to your kind attention that your good self and your office is well aware that my passport has been suspended," because he was considered a "security threat to India", he wrote in a seven-page letter in response to an emailed notice to the businessman. "It is impossible for me to travel back to India. I further wish to point out that the Regional Passport Office Mumbai has not given me any explanation as to why my passport has been suspended and as to how I am a security threat to India."

Choksi said he was also "concerned about my health and well-being" because he feared he would be arrested and denied medical treatment at a hospital of his choice. The absconding businessmen said "my persisting health problem" won't let him travel for another four to six months.

He claimed the seizure of his assets, bank accounts and the shutting down of all his offices in India by investigating agencies had affected his business and caused prejudice against him. He said the media and investigating agencies had roped in his family members "with a view to prejudice me ... harass me.

"The media is conducting a trial by itself and is blowing each and every issue out of proportion and is exaggerating allegations and this has left me completely defenceless. Multiple investigating agencies are after my life and the CBI has seized my office servers and I have no record of my business dealings. I am further being deprived of my basic right to communicate and the seizure of my servers have effectively denied me my fundamental right to defend myself against the allegations. I wish to bring to your notice and attention that I have been rendered defenceless. All the documents that were lying in my offices have been seized by the investigating agencies.”

He said he was continuing to work outside India and considering the "difficulties" his business had faced, he requested the CBI to communicate with him on his yahoo email ID or his advocate Sanjay Abbot "in respect of any issues which you consider is needed to be addressed to me concerning the investigation".