New Delhi: Jeweller Mehul Choksi has refused to join a CBI probe in the $ 2 billion PNB scam and claimed that "untenable" allegations had resulted in "sudden closure" of his business and exposed him and his family to "threats" from former associates.
In his latest letter to the CBI dated March 16, Choksi also mentioned his medical condition, suspended passport, media trial to decline the agency's communication asking him to join the probe.
"Till date, the Regional Passport Office has not communicated with me, and my passport continues to remain suspended. I assure your good offices that I'm not making any excuse, whatsoever to travel to India," he said in the letter addressed to investigation officer of the case.
The agency had asked him to appear before it for questioning in connection with the first FIR in which Choksi is named as an accused along with his nephew Nirav Modi, Ami Modi, Nishal Modi. The agency had also registered a separate FIR against him and his company Gitanjali group.
The agency had again asked him to join the investigation, on March 16, through an email dated March 13.
"I reiterate that I'm abroad and have earlier also responded to your notices. Surprisingly, the issues raised, the same has remained unaddressed, making my fear of safety rise to extreme levels," he said.
The jeweller, who had left the country before Punjab National Bank approached the CBI with a complaint against him and Nirav Modi, said the media continued to conduct a trial by itself blowing every issue out of proportion.
Choksi claimed that he was neither a partner of Diamond R US, Stellar Diamond, Solar Exports, companies accused in the FIR, nor did he have any kind of association with them.