Responding to fugitive Punjab National Bank Scam accused jeweller Mehul Choksi’s statement that he cannot travel to India as his passport is revoked, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on Friday said there are other options available to him if he wants to come back.
Countering Choksi’s argument that he cannot return in the absence of a passport, Raveesh said there are provisions to allow Indian citizens come back home in case they lose their passports or have some other issues regarding it. Raveesh said Choksi can go to the nearest Indian Embassy and get an Emergency Certificate issued to travel back.
Choksi is accused in the Rs. 12,600 crore PNB fraud. In a letter to the Central Bureau of Investigation Choksi said it is “impossible” for him to return to India since his passport has been suspended.
“It is impossible for me to travel back to India. I 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 in a letter to CBI.