Deepali Kalia –
The former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, AP Singh indicated the possibility of Mehul Choksi, fugitive diamantaire being deported to India from Dominica stating that he has no legal rights there.
Singh stated, “It is possible for Dominica to deport Mehul Choksi to India as he has no legal rights in Dominica. But he alleged before the court that he was kidnapped and brought to a third country (Dominica) against his will. Now the court will decide his deportation.”
Mehul Choksi is one of the main accused in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case. He is wanted in India on grave charges of bank fraud, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.
“If Dominican court found that Choksi was kidnapped and forcibly taken to Dominica, he’d be deported to Antigua as his country of origin.”, Singh further added.
Choksi’s counsels have argued in the court that the businessman was kidnapped, beaten up and brought to Dominica from Antigua, where he had been living since 2018.
India on the other hand has sent a team consisting of multi-agency officials led by CBI DIG to Dominica ahead of the June 2nd Caribbean court hearing on the fugitive diamantaire’s case.
The team comprising of 2 members of CBI and officials from other agencies will contend that Choksi continues to be an Indian citizen and has an Interpol Red Notice against him.
Earlier pictures of Choksi with red swollen eyes and body marks surfaced from police custody in Dominica