<p align="justify">Rising animosity of employees and customers, threat from business associates and ill-health are the reasons cited by diamantaire Nirav Modi's jeweller-uncle Mehul Choksi to avoid appearing before the CBI, officials said.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">This has, however, not impressed the CBI officials who issued fresh summons to the uncle-nephew duo, asking them to join investigations as early as possible. The agency has made it clear to them that they are "obliged" to cooperate with the CBI.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">In an email to the agency after its third summons on February 28, the first two being on February 19 and 23, Choksi said he was being "threatened by individuals with whom I have a business relationship". He went on to say, "as there has been a complete and sudden closure of business, my employees, customers, creditors etc have started to show their animosity towards me."</p>.<p align="justify" class="CrossHead">Medical concerns</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">He also cited that his health and well-being is a concern to him and that if he is arrested, "then I would not be able to get proper healthcare and would be provided treatment only in a government hospital. I would be further denied treatment in a private hospital" and that he would be denied a doctor of his choice.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Choksi said his passport has been suspended by the authorities and he was undergoing medical treatment. "It is impossible for me to travel back to India. I further 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," he said.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Another claim by Choksi was that there is a bias against him created by various political parties and media. "There is a great unfairness which is prevalent against me and I would not get a fair treatment and a fair trial," he said, adding "multiple investigating agencies are after my life".</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">The agency had sent three summonses on February 19, 23 and 28 asking them to join the probe at the earliest. They were asked to appear on March 7.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Meanwhile, sources said CBI director Alok K Verma submitted a status report on Nirav and Choksi fraud cases to the Prime Minister's Office.</p>
<p align="justify">Rising animosity of employees and customers, threat from business associates and ill-health are the reasons cited by diamantaire Nirav Modi's jeweller-uncle Mehul Choksi to avoid appearing before the CBI, officials said.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">This has, however, not impressed the CBI officials who issued fresh summons to the uncle-nephew duo, asking them to join investigations as early as possible. The agency has made it clear to them that they are "obliged" to cooperate with the CBI.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">In an email to the agency after its third summons on February 28, the first two being on February 19 and 23, Choksi said he was being "threatened by individuals with whom I have a business relationship". He went on to say, "as there has been a complete and sudden closure of business, my employees, customers, creditors etc have started to show their animosity towards me."</p>.<p align="justify" class="CrossHead">Medical concerns</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">He also cited that his health and well-being is a concern to him and that if he is arrested, "then I would not be able to get proper healthcare and would be provided treatment only in a government hospital. I would be further denied treatment in a private hospital" and that he would be denied a doctor of his choice.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Choksi said his passport has been suspended by the authorities and he was undergoing medical treatment. "It is impossible for me to travel back to India. I further 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," he said.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Another claim by Choksi was that there is a bias against him created by various political parties and media. "There is a great unfairness which is prevalent against me and I would not get a fair treatment and a fair trial," he said, adding "multiple investigating agencies are after my life".</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">The agency had sent three summonses on February 19, 23 and 28 asking them to join the probe at the earliest. They were asked to appear on March 7.</p>.<p align="justify" class="bodytext">Meanwhile, sources said CBI director Alok K Verma submitted a status report on Nirav and Choksi fraud cases to the Prime Minister's Office.</p>