Antigua revokes citizenship of Mehul Choksi

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SOURCE: Hindu Times —The development was confirmed to HT by at least two officers in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), who added that the fugitive businessman is currently fighting revocation of his citizenship in an Antiguan civil court.

Antigua and Barbuda has cancelled the citizenship of Mehul Choksi granted under the Caribbean nation’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) in November 2017 even as his partner-in-crime in the ₹13,500-crore fraud case, Nirav Modi, suffered a legal setback after a UK court ordered his extradition last week, people familiar with the matter said.

The development was confirmed to HT by at least two officers in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), who added that the fugitive businessman is currently fighting revocation of his citizenship in an Antiguan civil court.

“Antigua cancelled his citizenship sometime last year after which he has approached a civil court in St John’s. We believe he will lose his appeal as he is fighting the Antiguan government on a well-established investment scheme, which he misused to take refuge in the island nation after cheating Indian banks,” said the CBI officer cited above.

They added that as soon as Choksi exhausts his appeal against revocation of citizenship, his extradition proceedings will begin as Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne has already assured India of sending him back.

According to a June 2019 report by Antigua Observer, Browne, while calling Choksi a “crook”, had said that his citizenship will be revoked as his reputation had tarnished the image of CIP. The CIP, run by CIU (Citizenship by Investment Unit) of Antigua allows a person to get citizenship of the island nation, which comes with visa-free travel to 132 countries, upon investment of $200,000.

In the absence of an extradition treaty between two countries, India sought Choksi’s extradition in August 2018 on the principle of reciprocity and dual criminality but it is pending due to the legal issues. The principle of dual criminality’ requires that the offence for which the extradition is sought has to be an offence in both the – requesting and requested — countries.

The investigators are hopeful that as soon as Mehul Choksi loses his citizenship revocation appeal, his extradition will be easy as the evidence against him very strong, exactly like Nirav Modi as both indulged in the use of Letters of Undertaking (LOUs), dummy companies, destroying of evidence and intimidation of witnesses.

Last Thursday, UK court not only accepted CBI and ED’s evidence against Modi but it praised the nature of documents, audio/video files and testimonies gathered by the investigators.

Mehul Choksi siphoned off close to ₹7,080 crore in the ₹13,578 crore PNB fraud before fleeing to Antigua on January 4, 2018, a month before the mega-scam came to notice.

In a charge sheet filed last year, the ED claimed Choksi didn’t just cheat Indian banks but customers and lenders in Dubai and the United States as well. His assets worth ₹2,500 crore have already been attached. Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who represents Choksi, could not be reached for his comments.

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16 COMMENTS

  1. Is it a mere coincidence that the revocation of this man’s citizenship comes just about the same time as 40 00 AstraZeneca vaccines are to arrive in Antigua from India ?

    AMAZING how things happen….or do they ?

    WORLD “CRYSIS”: HOW THE WORLD TURNS AND BURNS. ONE DAY ALL SECRETS WILL BE REVEALED.

      • If you applied for citizenship in the USA.And it was found out.That you lied on your application to obtain that citizeship.Chances are it would be revoked and you would be deported.I do believed the same holds true in Antigua and Barbuda.Get his arse out of there.Let the Indian Government have him swing from the rafters.

    • Can you read?
      The citizenship was revoked last year and he has since challenged the revocation in a civil court……
      Sometimes I really wonder about my(antigua and barbuda) people…… read before you make yourself an ass

      • Well thank God! I was wondering if I read something they didn’t! Right now our people seem to always be looking for a conspiracy story! Dammit read to understand not to just comment! And they wanna be mad at the “not a reading public” saying but it’s evident. It’s either that or some of them just plain out illiterate 🤦🏾‍♀️

    • You read this part: “Antigua cancelled his citizenship sometime last year after which he has approached a civil court in St John’s. We believe he will lose his appeal as he is fighting the Antiguan government on a well-established investment scheme, which he misused to take refuge in the island nation after cheating Indian banks,” said the CBI officer cited above.”?

      How about the June 25 2019 issue of ImDaily an article entitled “Antigua PM: Choksi’s “Citizenship Will Be Revoked And He Will Be Repatriated to India” by Christian Nesheim?
      We expected covid then?

      • @Tenman…according to reports coming out of the Cabinet, by the Press Liaison one Max, this Court Case could take almost a decade to be finalized.
        This is what #Money, at times filthy lucre can cause the Nation!
        But, hey! He’s spending money like a Playboy modelled and fashioned off #DaDon Hugh Heffner!

  2. This boy is finally gonna go home to India. They will know what to do with him. He will receive a fair trial there. To God be the glory! The Universal Christ still reigns.

  3. Did Antigua just exchange Choksi for the alleged Indian vaccine that was to arrive yesterday. Asking for a friend

      • Agree or disagree. Lets rise above this level. Everyone should be allowed to voice their piece without such vicious name calling. Lets be adults here!

  4. Is that guy overweight, or is the picture wrong. With his health issues it seems he should be shedding some pounds. I guess when they get him back to India they’ll slim him up. What a sad situation, but the Antigua government is doing the right thing by send him home to India. They will deal with him justly.

  5. Bla bla bla bla! Is this a case where Antigua is handing him over in exchange for the 40000 vaccines Antigua just received? Or this new broke at the some time of receiving the vaccine is a coincident? Nice trade by the PM. Lol

    Who is next in line? Will the person be handed over after the country update Antigua’s Defense Force armory and equipment. Who said CIP was bad?!?!?

    So you all see, the PM could be lighting the candle at both ends of an issue CIP in favor of his country. Lets go Antigua, lets go!!

    After that then the next person could be traded for two brand new LIAT planes.
    So once these big scammers need citizenship, they are welcome.

  6. I wonder when we will realize that crime only pays for a short time?
    Now did he run come to a cournry where he must have believed that anything goes so he could get away with …? Mmm.
    Think you could sully our country more than we are already?
    Wrong. Not all the time.
    Farewell and go pay for your awfulness.

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