The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, his wife Preeti and others in the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The chargesheet states that Preeti Choksi was a major beneficiary of the proceeds of the crime in the case.
On Monday, a special court in Mumbai took cognizance of the ED’s chargesheet, filed in March under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Sources said that both will be asked to appear in court in the coming days.
In June 2021, India Today ran a special report on how Preeti Choksi was also a major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime in the PNB scam. Exclusive details accessed by India Today reveal that she was an active part of the elaborate scam and also received proceeds of crime looted abroad.
How was Preeti Choksi involved in PNB scam?
In 2013, Preity, along with a man named Dion Lilly-White, who was an employee of Gitanjali Gems in the UAE, met CD Shah and his assistant Neha Shinde, to help them incorporate three offshore companies – Ms. Charing Cross Holdings Ltd., Miss Colindale Holdings Ltd. and Hillingdon Holdings Ltd. Shah run a consultancy named Magus Consultancy.
In three companies, the nominee director was provided by Magus Consultancy, and Al Shalmali was the registered agent for them.
Hillingdon Holdings was incorporated in the Jabel Ali Free Zone on November 24, 2013, and Preeti Choksi was the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO). Whereas in Japan, Arvind Kumar Shah, an employee of Magus, was appointed as the designated shareholder and director Hillingdon Holdings was the sole shareholder of Ms. Goldhawk DMCC (formerly Diminico DMCC).
Several of Mehul Choksi’s companies, such as Diminico DMCC, which was converted into Goldhawk DMCC, a subsidiary of Hillingdon Holdings Limited – were operating for the beneficial interest of Mehul Choksi.
On November 9, 2014, AED 6,00,000 (INR 1,20,00,000 @INR 20/AED) was transferred from Ms. Asian Diamonds & Jewelery FZE to Hillingdon Holdings, a UAE based Gitanjali Group company and a direct beneficiary of proceeds of crime of Rs 349.48 crore.
Ms Goldhawk owned three immovable properties in the UAE with a total area of 5123.08 sq ft, valued at AED 11,270,776 (INR 22,54,15,520).
Goldhawk DMCC has 3 properties in Almas Tower, Dubai which were attached by ED in the year 2019.
These were under its previous name, ie Diminico DMCC. They are still under the same company name.