After fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s lawyers alleged his abduction to neighbouring island nation Dominica, the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has started investigations into the matter, Prime Minister Gaston Browne told a local media outlet. His lawyers alleged that he was kidnapped from Jolly Harbour in Antigua by policemen looking Antiguan and Indian and brought to Dominica on a boat

PM Browne said Choksi’s lawyers have given the names of people involved in the alleged kidnapping to the police commissioner in a complaint, the Antigua News Room reported. 

The Antigua and Barbuda prime minister also said that if the claims are true, then it is a serious matter. 

PM Browne said police are taking the complaint seriously, the report said Choksi has filed a complaint with the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to the extent that he was abducted. He made a formal claim through his attorneys that he was abducted from Antigua and taken to Dominica so it is a report that police is taking seriously and they are currently investigating the abduction, PM Browne said. 

Dominican opposition leader Lennox Linton had also slammed the government of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit for not being forthcoming on the issue of Mehul Choksi, accusing that the government already knew about Choksi’s arrival in the country. Choksi arrived in Dominica without any passport and there were huge question marks how he entered the Dominican soil, Linton said.

The only reason that government is keeping it under wraps, not wanting that people should know about it is because the government is embarrassed by the action it took to facilitate this transaction, Linton had said.

Choksi had mysteriously gone missing on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda where he has been staying since 2018 as a citizen. He was detained in the neighbouring Dominica for illegal entry after a possible romantic escapade with his rumoured girlfriend. 

Read Also: Northeast Headline is one of the emerging news portals in Northeast India says Koushik Das

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in India for allegedly siphoning off  Rs 13,500 crore of public money from Punjab National Bank, using fake guarantees to secure overseas loans.

The post After Mehul Choksi’s team alleges abduction, Antigua PM orders probe appeared first on APN News.

The multi-agency team tasked with bringing back the fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi from Dominica will return to Delhi without him at 11 pm as the Dominican High Court adjourned his habeas corpus petition to July and extended its order on removing him from that country.

The eight-member team including Enforcement Directorate officials and the head of the CBI’s Bank Securities and Frauds (Mumbai) division – had been sent to assist public prosecutors in Dominica.

The team had reportedly argued that Choksi should be repatriated to India on grounds that he remains a citizen of this country. Sources had said: Choksi is not a citizen of Dominica, so he cannot claim any fundamental rights on the island.

However, Choksi’s lawyer has said Dominica cannot send his client back to India since he is now a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.

A Dominica Court on Thursday had rejected the bail application of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi for illegally entering the island nation from Antigua. Choksi had gone missing in Antigua and Barbuda after which the local police had launched a manhunt to trace him. India’s most wanted fugitive in connection with the Punjab National Bank loan fraud case was captured from Dominica while trying to flee to Cuba from Antigua.

Choksi had submitted that he was allegedly kidnapped into the Island. He, however pleaded not guilty for the alleged crimes before the court.

Various non-nationals in Dominica are on bail for similar matters, so we are of the view that bail can be granted to our client. Let stringent conditions be added to the bail condition including a bail sum of $ 10,000 double the maximum penalty for illegal entry, Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal had argued in court.

The Dominica government contended that bail should not be granted to Choksi, who is wanted in India in an alleged ₹ 13,500 crore loan fraud case, as he is a flight risk.

Read Also: RBI keeps interest rates unchanged; cuts GDP growth forecast to 9.5 percent

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in India for allegedly siphoning off  Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank, using fake guarantees to secure overseas loans.

The post Multi-agency team to return to India without Mehul Choksi as Dominica court keeps him in country till July appeared first on APN News.

A Dominica Court on Thursday rejected the bail application of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi for illegally entering the island nation from Antigua. Choksi had gone missing in Antigua and Barbuda after which the local police had launched a manhunt to trace him. India’s most wanted fugitive in connection with the Punjab National Bank loan fraud case, was captured from Dominica while trying to flee to Cuba from Antigua.

Choksi, who appeared before the magistrate court on a wheel chair in a blue T-shirt and black shorts, submitted that he was allegedly kidnapped into the Island. He, however pleaded not guilty for the alleged crimes before the court.

Various non-nationals in Dominica are on bail for similar matters, so we are of the view that bail can be granted to our client. Let stringent conditions be added to the bail condition including a bail sum of $ 10,000 double the maximum penalty for illegal entry, Choksi’s lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal argued in court.

Aggarwal said they will move to the upper court to challenge the court order.

The Dominica government contended that bail should not be granted to Choksi, who is wanted in India in an alleged ₹ 13,500 crore loan fraud case, as he is a flight risk.

Choksi has no ties in Dominica hence it would serve him no purpose not to flee the island if bail is granted. Choksi has an Interpol Red Notice against him as he is facing charges for 11 offences in India, read a statement from the Dominica government.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne had requested Dominican PM Roosevelt Skerrit and law enforcement in Dominica to not return Choksi to Antigua where he enjoys legal and constitutional protection as a citizen.

Read Also: Kerala assembly passes resolution asks Centre to provide free Covid vaccines to all states

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in India for allegedly siphoning off  Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank, using fake guarantees to secure overseas loans.

The post Dominica court denies bail to Mehul Choksi in illegal entry case appeared first on APN News.

Fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi’s repatriation process has been stayed by a Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, superior court for eastern Caribbean states including Commonwealth of Dominica, as his lawyers on Thursday contested that the wanted businessman cannot be sent to India as he is no longer a citizen of the country. India’s most wanted fugitive in connection with the Punjab National Bank loan fraud case, was captured from Dominica while trying to flee to Cuba from Antigua.

The next proceeding in the matter has been scheduled for Friday at 9 am local time.

Mehul Choksi’s legal team in Dominica had filed a petition after they were allegedly not given access to him, local media reported. They also claimed that marks of torture have been reported on his body.

Choksi’s lawyer Wayne Marsh told news agency ANI that he noticed that he was severely beaten, his eyes were swollen and he had several burnt marks on his body. He reported to me that he was abducted at Jolly Harbour in Antigua and brought to Dominica by persons whom he believed to be Indian and Antiguan police on a vessel he described to be about 60-70 feet in length, Marsh said.

Marsh also said that Choksi is an Antiguan citizen, not Indian. Heard Antiguan PM say that he instructed Dominican PM to send Choksi to India because should he be returned to Antigua, he would be entitled to constitutional protection.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne had requested Dominican PM Roosevelt Skerrit and law enforcement in Dominica to not return Choksi to Antigua where he enjoys legal and constitutional protection as a citizen, the news agency reported.

Choksi had gone missing in Antigua and Barbuda earlier this week after which the local police have launched a manhunt to trace him since May 23.

Read Also:Priyanka Chopra’s mom Madhu Chopra says actor carries haute couture better than Deepika Padukone

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in India for allegedly siphoning off  Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank, using fake guarantees to secure overseas loans.

The post Dominica Court stays Mehul Choksi’s deportation, grants legal aid appeared first on APN News.

Fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi, an accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, has gone missing in Antigua and Barbuda. The local police have launched a manhunt to trace him since May 23, local media outlets reported.

Choksi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal has confirmed that he is missing in the island nation. In a statement to new agency ANI, lawyer said, Mehul Choksi is missing. His family members are worried and anxious and had called me to discuss. Antigua police is investigating. Family is in the dark and worried about his safety, he said.

Meanwhile, intelligence sources said Choksi might have shifted base to Cuba. We have got such reports (and) we are ascertaining it, a senior official said. However, like Antigua, Cuba has no extradition agreement with India.

Choksi left his home last evening to go for dinner at a well-known restaurant in the southern part of the island and was never seen again. His vehicle was found in Jolly Harbour later, but no sign of him, reported Antiguan newsroom.

Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has also confirmed that Choksi is missing. A missing report has been filed and the police are trying to trace him. They would also seek help from neighbouring countries, he said.

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in India for allegedly siphoning off  Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank, using fake guarantees to secure overseas loans.

Read Also: Mumbai receives 3 bids from Russia’s Sputnik V Covid vaccine makers

The 60-year-old has been involved in a legal battle to stop his extradition back to India to answer fraud charges against him. He currently holds Antiguan citizenship. Earlier, Prime Minister Browne said that citizenship would be revoked once all of his legal options had been exhausted.

The post PNB Scam: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi missing in Antigua, local police launch manhunt appeared first on APN News.

Antiguan citizenship of Diamantaire Mehul Choksi, a key accused in over Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam who fled to the Caribbean nation, will be revoked after he has exhausted his legal options and he will be deported to India, reported the Antigua Observer, quoting Prime Minister Gaston Brown of Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua, known as one of the several tax havens in the Caribbean, has no extradition treaty with India, but PM Brown told Antigua Observer that his country will not provide “safe harbour for criminals, for those who are involved in financial crimes”.

“His citizenship was processed; he got through but the reality is his citizenship will be revoked and he will be repatriated to India; so there is recourse. It’s not a case that we are trying to provide any safe harbour for criminals, for those who are involved in financial crimes,” Antigua Observer reported, quoting a statement by Prime Minister Browne.

Browne also said, “We have to allow for due process. He has a matter before the court and as we said to the Indian Government, criminals have fundamental rights, too, and Choksi has a right to go to court and defend his position. But I can assure you, after he has exhausted all of his legal options, he will be extradited.”

Clarifying that the government of Antigua and Barbuda has made it a priority to ensure that individuals who will benefit from the country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) undergo intense scrutiny, Browne said that there are a few who may circumvent the process, so the recourse is available.

To remedy the ongoing problem of criminals attempting to sidestep the CIP and use the twin-island as a place of refuge, Browne said that further measures and due diligence will be implemented going forward, according to Antigua Observer.

Also Read:  By-polls to two Rajya Sabha seats: SC rejects Congress plea against separate elections

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are the two key accused wanted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly defrauding the Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of Rs 13,500 crore in collusion with some of the bank employees.

The multi-crore fraud came to light in early 2018. Both Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi had fled the country before that. Choksi had left India in January last year. Six months later, it became known that he had taken Antigua citizenship. The process was completed two months before the scam surfaced in January and he was investigated, which was why when Antigua asked India to give details of cases against him, he got a clean chit.

India had cancelled the passports of both Choksi and Nirav Modi in February, after investigators uncovered the huge loan fraud at PNB. Nirav Modi is said to be in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

Also Read: Yet another economist quits govt: RBI Dy Governor Viral Acahrya resigns 6 months before term

In April, Choksi had approached the court claiming that he had not deliberately avoided joining the investigation against him in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) alleged fraud case, but was unable to return because of his medical condition.

Choksi filed an affidavit in Bombay High Court on Monday through his advocate Vijay Aggarwal, stating he had left the country in January 2018 for getting medical check-up and treatment abroad and not to avoid prosecution in the case. The court asked Choksi to send his medical papers and reports to JJ Hospital, so that it can analyse them and submit a report to the court stating whether he is fit to travel to India.

ED had told the Bombay High Court that it was ready to provide an air ambulance to bring Choksi for trial.

The 59-year-old earlier refused to return to India, saying he feared “mob lynching”.

The post PNB scam: Diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s Anituguan citizenship to be revoked appeared first on APN News.