Sejal Chaturvedi-
A Magistrate Court in Dominica sentenced absconding businessman Mehul Choksi to state prison on Thursday, but noted that he would remain in hospital as his medical condition “deteriorated.”
The fugitive diamantaire had already been in police custody.
“Yes, his police custody has been converted to prison custody, but he will remain in the hospital because his medical condition has worsened,” as stated by his lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal.
Mehul Choksi’s legal team had presented a medical certificate of “mental stress” and increased blood pressure from doctors at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital, where Choksi had been receiving treatment.
This came as a significant advancement in India’s efforts, as it had approached the Dominica High Court to be made a prosecutor in the case filed against Choksi
Officials at the Court stated that “CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and the Ministry of External Affairs, filed two affidavits in the Dominica High Court to be impleaded in the habeas corpus case, which demands Choksi’s return to Antigua and Barbuda.”
They went on to add that, the Central Agency would likely focus on establishing Choksi’s criminal guilt, fugitive status, pending warrants against him, Red Notices, and charge sheets, while the Ministry of External Affairs will argue that Choksi remains an Indian citizen.
Moreover, the CBI filed a supplementary charge sheet against him on Wednesday, stating that he had prior information of the imminent Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations in 2017, prompting him to take his flight from India to the United Kingdom and conceal evidence.
In its supplemental charge sheet, the CBI has cited Section 201 of the IPC, which deals with a suspect’s destruction of evidence as part of a criminal conspiracy.
Choki’s legal team also claimed that their client was illegally transferred from Antigua and Barbuda and that as a citizen, he had the right to appeal to the British Privy Council in the event of extradition.
Polak, Choksi’s lawyer, also stated that the English authorities have “universal jurisdiction” to investigate such matters.
As per his lawyer, “The aim of moving him from Antigua to Dominica was to reduce his legal protection. Choksi is currently undergoing legal proceedings in Antigua in response to the Prime Minister’s attempts to strip him of his citizenship, which is the only one he has, and extradite him to India “
The fugitive businessman is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,500 crore loan fraud at the state-owned Punjab National Bank.