Mehul Choksi Drops UK Kidnapping Claim, Ordered to Pay Around ₹8.59 Crore

Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has withdrawn his multimillion-pound damages claim against the Government of India and other defendants in the UK High Court over his alleged abduction from Antigua in 2021.

Choksi had claimed that Indian authorities and several individuals were involved in an operation to unlawfully kidnap him and take him from Antigua to India through Dominica. He has now abandoned the London proceedings after failing to provide £677,000 in security for legal costs ordered by the court.

What Did Mehul Choksi Allege?

Choksi alleged that the Indian government conspired with five individuals to abduct and torture him before attempting to facilitate his return to India.

The alleged incident occurred on May 23, 2021, when Choksi disappeared from Antigua and was later located in Dominica. His legal case described the episode as an unlawful operation aimed at taking him back to India, where he is wanted in connection with the Punjab National Bank fraud investigation.

The Indian government denied the allegations and challenged the jurisdiction of the UK court. Choksi’s claims were allegations and were not finally determined at a full trial.

Why Did Choksi Withdraw the Case?

The London litigation came to an end after Choksi failed to meet a court order requiring him to provide security for the defendants’ legal costs.

Reports say the High Court had ordered him to provide £677,000 before the case could continue. After the required security was not paid within the specified period, parts of the claim were struck out, and Choksi subsequently withdrew the remaining proceedings.

The available reports do not establish a separate reason from Choksi for his decision to abandon the claim.

Importantly, the withdrawal does not amount to a judicial finding that the alleged kidnapping occurred or that it did not occur. The underlying allegations were not resolved through a full trial.

How Much Will Choksi Have to Pay?

The total amount connected to the court’s security-for-costs order was £677,000, or approximately ₹8.59 crore based on the exchange-rate calculation used in the original report.

The amount included security sought by different defendants involved in the litigation. The court’s proceedings considered issues surrounding the costs of the case and the defendants’ applications rather than issuing a final judgment on the kidnapping allegations themselves.

Choksi Continues to Face Extradition Proceedings

The UK case is separate from Choksi’s extradition proceedings in Belgium.

Choksi remains in custody in Antwerp while challenging efforts to extradite him to India. Indian authorities accuse him of involvement in the wider Punjab National Bank fraud case linked to his nephew, fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi.

The PNB case has involved multiple investigations and proceedings across countries as Indian agencies seek to pursue people accused of involvement in the alleged financial fraud.

Sandeep Mistry Deported From UAE to India

The Choksi development comes as Indian investigators have secured the return of another accused person linked to the wider Nirav Modi-PNB case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation brought Sandeep Mistry to India from the United Arab Emirates after an Interpol Red Notice was issued against him in July 2026. He arrived in Mumbai late on September 28 and was subsequently taken into CBI custody.

A Mumbai court later remanded Mistry to judicial custody. The CBI has accused him of involvement in fictitious international trade transactions and of acting as an intermediary among entities allegedly connected to the fraud.

What Is Mistry Accused Of?

According to investigators, Mistry allegedly helped manage the operations of Dubai-based entities and communicated with people presented as directors of companies connected to the case.

The CBI has further alleged that he helped facilitate documents relating to fictitious trade in jewellery and used communications designed to conceal evidence. Investigators have also accused him of pressuring nominal directors of overseas companies. These are allegations contained in the criminal investigation and have not been established as convictions in the proceedings.

Two Separate Legal Developments in the PNB Case

Choksi’s withdrawal of his London damages claim and Mistry’s deportation from the UAE represent separate legal developments connected to the broader PNB fraud investigations.

For Choksi, the UK litigation has ended with a £677,000 security-for-costs consequence, while his extradition proceedings in Belgium remain separate.

For Indian investigators, Mistry’s return to India provides another opportunity to pursue allegations concerning the overseas entities and transactions examined in the PNB case.

The developments underline the international dimension of the long-running investigation, which has involved legal proceedings and law-enforcement cooperation across several countries.