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

Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi has abandoned his damages claim in the UK High Court over his allegation that he was kidnapped from Antigua in 2021 and taken to Dominica as part of an alleged effort to return him to India.

The legal action ended after Choksi failed to provide court-ordered security for the defendants’ legal costs. The amount involved was £677,000, equivalent to roughly ₹8.6 crore. The court’s earlier judgment had required security for costs while jurisdiction and other preliminary issues remained unresolved.

What Did Mehul Choksi Claim?

Choksi alleged that the Indian government conspired with several individuals to unlawfully detain and transport him from Antigua to Dominica on May 23, 2021.

According to his case, he was lured to an apartment, assaulted and forcibly taken onto a boat before being transported to Dominica. He alleged that the operation was connected to efforts to secure his return to India, where he faces allegations linked to financial crimes.

The defendants have denied the allegations. The Government of India also challenged the UK court’s jurisdiction and relied on state-immunity arguments. The High Court judgment recorded that no final determination had been made on the truth of Choksi’s allegations.

Why Did Choksi Abandon the Case?

The claim did not reach a full trial on the allegations.

In February 2026, Justice Mansfield ordered Choksi to provide security for the defendants’ legal costs. The court ordered £425,000 in security for Gurdip Bath and Leslie Farrow-Guy, while a further £252,000 was ordered for Gurmit Singh and Gurjit Singh Bhandal.

Choksi failed to make the required payment. His claims against several defendants were subsequently struck out, and his lawyers later filed to discontinue the remaining proceedings against the Indian government and Barbara Jarabik.

As a result, the allegations themselves were not finally determined by the UK court.

Court Raised Questions About Evidence

The February judgment focused primarily on applications for security for costs rather than deciding whether Choksi’s kidnapping allegations were true.

The court examined issues including the strength of the case, the potential difficulty of recovering costs from a claimant living outside the jurisdiction and Choksi’s ability to provide the required security.

Reports on the proceedings also noted that some of the evidence relied upon by Choksi was given limited or no evidential weight. However, the court’s decision to require security for costs was not itself a final ruling that the alleged kidnapping did or did not occur.

Choksi Remains in Belgium as Extradition Case Continues

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

Choksi was arrested in Belgium in 2025 following India’s request for his extradition. An Antwerp court later issued an advisory opinion supporting extradition, but Belgian authorities said the final decision remained under examination as of August 2026.

Indian authorities want Choksi returned in connection with allegations arising from the Punjab National Bank fraud case, which also involves fugitive businessman Nirav Modi.

Sandeep Mistry Deported From UAE to India

The latest development involving Choksi comes alongside another major action in the wider Nirav Modi-linked investigation.

The Central Bureau of Investigation recently secured the deportation of Sandeep Mistry from the United Arab Emirates to India. Mistry was wanted in connection with the PNB fraud investigation and had been the subject of an Interpol Red Notice issued in July 2026.

CBI alleges that Mistry helped coordinate the operations of overseas entities connected to the case and was involved in fictitious international trade transactions. Investigators have also alleged that he helped prepare forged documents and pressured nominal directors of foreign companies. These remain allegations in the criminal case.

After arriving in Mumbai, Mistry was arrested by the CBI and produced before a special court. He was subsequently remanded to judicial custody until October 6.

What Happens Next for Choksi?

With the UK damages claim abandoned, Choksi’s immediate legal challenges remain focused elsewhere, particularly on the extradition proceedings in Belgium.

The UK case did not produce a judicial finding confirming his allegations of kidnapping or establishing liability against the Indian government or the other defendants. Instead, the proceedings ended after the required security for legal costs was not provided.

Meanwhile, Indian investigative agencies continue pursuing individuals linked to the wider PNB fraud investigation, including suspects and accused persons who have remained outside the country. The deportation of Sandeep Mistry from the UAE is the latest example of those international efforts.