Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Monday highlighted India’s growing diplomatic strength, crediting it for the successful extradition process of Tahawwur Rana, accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, from the United States.
The minister, however, remained non-committal on efforts to bring fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi back to India.
Extradition Of Tahawwur Rana
Speaking during a program organized to pay tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, Meghwal praised the government’s foreign policy, calling the extradition a major diplomatic achievement.
“Our External Affairs Minister has already spoken about it. I repeat — under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s foreign policy has become so effective that such major steps like extradition are now possible. This is a proud moment for the country,” said Meghwal.
While Tahawwur Rana’s extradition was celebrated, Meghwal avoided commenting on the status of Mehul Choksi’s return to India. Choksi, who fled India in 2018, was arrested earlier in the day in Belgium.
His lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, expressed serious concerns about Choksi’s safety if extradited to India. “His human rights will be gravely affected. He may not receive proper medical care and could be harassed by political parties,” Aggarwal claimed. He said their defense would focus on two main points — the political nature of the case and Choksi’s medical condition.
₹13,850 Crore PNB Fraud
Mehul Choksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of ₹13,850 crore. Between 2014 and 2017, they allegedly colluded with bank officials to obtain fraudulent Letters of Undertaking and Foreign Letters of Credit, causing a wrongful loss of over ₹6,000 crore to PNB alone.
Choksi fled India on January 2, 2018, just before the scam surfaced. He has since been on the radar of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Role Of His Statue At Parliament
At the same event, Meghwal paid homage to Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and highlighted the significance of the statue installed last year at the Parliament complex.
“There are many programs organized on the birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar. The statue inaugurated last year has become a central venue for such events. Through the Department of Justice, we hold multiple events here every year, including competitions and public awareness programs related to the Constitution,” Meghwal said.
The minister noted that the statue has become a point of engagement for the public, with many people visiting and taking part in events organized at the site.
The day’s developments highlighted India’s recent diplomatic successes and ongoing legal battles to bring fugitives to justice, while also commemorating the legacy of one of India’s greatest constitutional architects.
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