In the money laundering case going on against Mehul Choksi, ED has claimed for the first time that his son Rohan Choksi was also actively involved in this case. This claim was made before the Appellate Tribunal for Forfeited Property (ATFP) in Delhi. According to sources, Mehul Choksi's son Rohan Choksi had appealed against the attachment of a property located in Mumbai.
This property was attached by ED in 2018. Rohan said that this property belonged to his family trust and was purchased in 1994. But ED told the tribunal that Mehul Choksi had transferred this property to his son in the year 2013. So that if fraud comes to light, properties can be saved.
ED said that evidence shows that Rohan Choksi was also involved in money laundering. The thing to note is that Rohan Choksi's name is not in any FIR or charge sheet. Mehul Choksi had absconded from India in 2017. He is accused of causing loss worth thousands of crores to Punjab National Bank. He is currently in jail in Belgium and extradition proceedings are going on against him from the Indian side.
In its written arguments before the tribunal, the investigating agency said that Mehul Choksi was a director in many companies which existed only on paper. According to the agency, these shell companies were created to show fake transactions without actual purchase and sale of any goods and to route the proceeds of crime.
The agency also told the tribunal that Rohan Choksi holds 99.99 per cent stake in another company, Luster Industries Pvt Ltd, in which Mehul Choksi is the director. Investigation revealed that this company was used to divert funds abroad.
According to the ED, the investigation also revealed that US $ 127,500 (about Rs 81.6 lakh) was transferred from Asian Diamond and Jewelery FZE to Singapore's Merlin Luxury Group Pvt Ltd. ED claims that Asian Diamond and Jewelery FZE had transferred the crime proceeds directly to this company.
The agency told the tribunal that Singapore's Merlin Luxury Group was also under the control of Mehul Choksi and was being run through Luster Industries Private Limited. Therefore, the agency argued that since Rohan Choksi holds 99.99 percent stake in the company, he cannot escape asset attachment.
