PNB Scam: Mehul Choksi first left for Dubai

Mehul Choksi, an accused in the Rs 12,717-crore PNB scam who left India in the first week of January, had first gone to Dubai, according to the CBI.

This came to light after the arrest of Vipul Chitalia, the vice president (banking operations) of Choksi-led Gitanjali Group of Companies.

"He (Chitalia) was questioned today (Tuesday) in the ongoing investigation of the PNB fraud case. It is alleged that he was responsible for handling the unauthorised Letters of Understanding and Foreign Letters of Credit and maintaining contact with bank officials," a CBI spokesperson said.

"He allegedly escaped to Dubai with Mehul Choksi in the first week of January before the matter was reported to the CBI. He returned to India today (Tuesday) when he was detained. He was produced in the court and remanded to police custody till March 17," the spokesperson said.

In addition, Gokulnath Shetty, former deputy manager of PNB, has been re-arrested in connection with the second FIR in the scam. While the first FIR deals with irregularities of firms related to Choksi's diamantaire nephew Nirav Modi, the second one deals with Choksi's companies.

Shetty, who was in judicial custody, was the first to be arrested in the first FIR. He has now been sent to police custody till March 15.

The CBI has also questioned four PNB Treasury officers, including a general manager and assistant general manager rank officers. 

Further investigation is continuing, the spokesperson said.