"Wow, Mehul Choksi Has Been Arrested, Very Good": Why This Bengaluru Businessman Is Celebrating

The arrest of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi in Belgium has sent ripples across the financial world — and for one man in particular, it's a moment of long-awaited justice. Hariprasad SV, a Bengaluru-based businessman and whistle-blower who had flagged the Punjab National Bank scam years ago, couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

“Wow, Mehul Choksi’s arrest in Belgium is great news,” said Hariprasad, speaking to ANI. “This is not just good for India, but for all those he defrauded.”

Why Is Hariprasad So Invested in Choksi's Arrest?

Back in 2016, Hariprasad noticed financial irregularities pointing to a possible scam. Acting on instinct and analysis, he alerted the Prime Minister’s Office on July 26, 2016, well before the scam became public knowledge. At the time, not many were paying attention — but he was right.

Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, allegedly siphoned off over ₹13,850 crore from PNB using fraudulent Letters of Undertaking and Letters of Credit between 2014 and 2017.

The Whistle-Blower’s Demand

Hariprasad isn’t just happy about the arrest — he’s urging the government to bring Choksi back quickly and recover the billions he looted from Indian banks and taxpayers.

“Apart from extradition, the most important thing is to bring back the money he stashed across the world,” he said. “Hopefully, this time the Indian government will succeed.”

The Long Run of a Fugitive

• Fled India: January 2, 2018
• Citizenship: Took Antigua nationality in 2017
• Previous Arrest: Caught in Dominica while allegedly trying to escape to Cuba
• Current Status: Arrested in Belgium on India's request
• Extradition Battle: Choksi’s legal team is preparing to challenge the request citing his health issues

What’s Next?

India is pushing hard for Choksi's extradition. But this is not the first time efforts have been made — and failed. His legal team, citing medical concerns, has often stalled the process. Whether Belgium turns him over remains to be seen, but there’s a renewed sense of hope among those like Hariprasad, who have been fighting for accountability for nearly a decade.