The Congress on Monday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on as to who facilitated the escape aboard of Punjab National Bank fraud accused Mehul Choksi, who was purportedly declared a proclaimed offender by a Chandigarh court.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said: "In this 'Chhota Modi-Mehul Choksi' tango, which is continuing to play itself out, there are new revelations which have emerged on a daily basis, which raise some very profound questions as to who facilitated the escape of the gentleman from the country."
"On August 8, 2017, a Chief Judicial Magistrate's court in Chandigarh declared Managing Director and Chairman of Geentajali Jewellery Retail Pvt Ltd (Mehul Choksi) as a proclaimed offender. ... so the question is that Geetanjali Jewellery Retail Pvt Ltd through its Managing Director and Chairman, who happens to be 'hamare Mehul Bhai', was declared absconder by a competent court. How has this man been allowed to leave the country?"
Taking a dig at the Prime Minister, Tewari said, "Every day, you hear him talk about investment, infrastructure, irrespective of whether it has been created or not, lecturing children on exams. At times, he refers to himself as the ‘chowkidar' of the country. At times, he is the ‘pradhan sevak' of the country, but we would like to ask him some questions. We would like to ask the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as to who facilitated the exit of this man from the country despite court orders."
"Who are the powers that be who facilitated the escape of Nirav Modi, his family and Mehul Choksi. "Who are the powers that be that orchestrated these people to be allowed to leave the country.... finally, you try and make a big song and dance about bolting the stable door after the horses have run away," he said.
The Congress also questioned Narendra Modi's silence on Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah's son's company allegedly registering a profit 16,000 times the investment, Rafael fighter jets deal, death of Judge B.H. Loya, and ONGC stake in West Block of KG Basin.
"He is the first Prime Minister in independent India who in the past 45 months of his term has not addressed a single no-holds-barred press conference," Tewari said.
