As the Indian government tells Dominica to hand over fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, Antiguan Prime Minister (PM) Gaston Browne has confirmed that a private jet from India has arrived in the Caribbean nation of Dominica to bring him back to India.
Speaking to a radio channel, PM Browne said, “My understanding is that Indian government has sent certain documents from courts in India to confirm that he is indeed a fugitive and my understanding is that the documents will be utilised in the court case as you know the judge in Dominica has put a stay on deportation till Wednesday. So Indian government seems to be going all out to make sure he is repatriated to India to stand trial.”
India has stated that Choksi, who is originally an Indian citizen is evading the law and is an economic offender.
Choksi was reported to have gone missing from Antigua. On Wednesday (26 May), he was arrested by Dominica Police and is presently in their custody.
PM Browne had also made it very clear that he would not accept Choksi back in Antigua and that he wants him to be repatriated straight to India where he is wanted.
Meanwhile, the Dominica court has put a stay on the deportation. The case will now be heard on 2 June.
Mehul Choksi is originally an Indian citizen who had taken up new citizenship only to evade the law in India after committing a fraud of almost $2 billion, reports Asian News International (ANI).
Through back-channel diplomacy, India is said to have told Dominica that Choksi who was found in the country after disappearing from Antigua, and should be treated as a fugitive Indian citizen who has a Red Corner Notice (RCN) from Interpol issued against him.
In India Choksi faces charges of criminal breach of trust, cheating, and dishonesty including delivery of property, corruption, and money laundering and he is the uncle of Nirav Modi.
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