Indian diamantaire Mehul Choksi is exploring his legal options after an online newspaper in St Kitts and Nevis claimed that he had met with the Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Harold Lovell, to discuss campaign financing for the opposition party.
The article published in SKN News earlier this week alleged that Choksi had promised Lovell election funding in exchange for helping him avoid criminal charges in India which has been seeking his extradition.
The article further alleged that Choksi and Lovell met in an Italian restaurant in Antigua over the weekend and that the owner of the restaurant, named by SKN as ‘Richard Parker’, revealed that the two talked about the deal, with Lovell apparently promising safety and immunity if he was successful in his bid to become the country’s Prime Minister.
However, Choksi’s spokesperson, James Lynch, who spoke to Observer from the UK, said the SKN News report was entirely false.
“There is no substance at all. Mr Choksi has not met with Lovell in any Italian restaurant. I spoke to the family. There was no meeting. What has been published is entirely incorrect and there is no truth to it at all,” he said.
Lynch said, while Choksi may be considering his legal options on this matter, the businessman is already entangled in several legal battles relating to his apparent abduction to Dominica last year.
“Our client is not happy he is being portrayed in this way. He is already embroiled in legal disputes at this moment … but he continues to pursue legal avenues available to him,” Lynch added.
Lynch believes the entire “fabricated” story — which the UPP has also vehemently denied — may be “point scoring on an electoral basis ahead of the elections expected later this year”.
In fact, on Thursday, Lovell told Observer that he is seeking a retraction from SKN News.
In May last year, Prime Minister Gaston Browne accused the UPP of publicly supporting Choksi in order to attract campaign funding.
“After mischievously accusing my administration of harbouring Mehul Choksi, who has an Interpol Red Notice, they are now seeking to sanitise this fugitive to get campaign funding,” PM Browne said.
On May 23 2021, the Indian businessman was reported missing from Antigua and Barbuda, where he has been residing since he became a citizen under the country’s Citizenship by Investment Programme in 2018.
Choksi was later found in neighbouring Dominica and charged for entering that country illegally.
His lawyers, however, alleged that he was kidnapped from his Jolly Harbour home in Antigua and taken to Dominica via boat.
Due to poor health, Choksi was later released on bail and allowed to return to Antigua for treatment.
According to the conditions of his bail, he is expected to return to Dominica to answer to the charges once he is medically fit, a requirement that his family said may never be met, since his health continues to deteriorate.
Choksi, the owner of retail jewellery firm Gitanjali Group, is wanted by Indian authorities in relation to a US$2 billion bank scam. — OBSERVER Newsco
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I knew this story was false from the get go. This story was created to try and destabilise the UPP’s election campaign.
I wonder what will be the next made up story by the ABLP before the next election, to cover up their own fiscal inadequacies?
Let the old guy exercise his legal options. Then the truth will come out in court. Right now there is uncertainty, but we want to know the truth. I’m amazed this fugitive is still here.
Way to go Mehul Choksi assert your legal rights.
ABLP probably got funding from him in the past now they are saying the UPP seeking funding. They are talking from experience.
De Con man at it again.. Strangely he don’t want to go back to home of birth and hire a lawyer to clear his name. Wow Politicalitis have really infected plenty Wadadlians. Today is my side so anything they say and do it’s all well and good but let me remind all of you of sticky Wicky. All you tap believing in dem Con Artists. Dem people no easy. Dem will thief your clothing off you with eyes wide open.
Colombo what ever you’re smoking I want some because that’s some good shit.
Choksi at it again ? Did you even read the article and did he start this false reporting
It’s also strange that he doesn’t want to go back ?
🤷 I throw my hands up you’re more dunce than I ever thought. You really can’t change stupid.
If there’s nothing to say why say anything shuups.
Plenty all you say the same thing about Allen Sandford.. you will live to regret. Since you are so intelligent. You should restart your brain and asked, if a man is so innocent why he is hiding from his own country of birth by presenting himself to the courts? Unless you believe the court system in his born country have no credibility. Do you remember Leroy King and Allen Sandford? Maybe you are also infected with Politicalitis. I am so sorry for people like you. Ah no me you need to attack, Ah de con man, de convicted rapist, de well known con man, de one who shot a young pregnant woman who was 10 years younger than the politician, de Foots lady etc. me could go and on. Ah dem people you want educate people like you to follow. Wow be my guest. You are more dunce than I think. Continue to read my commentaries cause you are too intelligent. Me grandma would say you are a classic educated Jack ass. Son continue to ride them. Thanks for letting me ride you intelligent backside. You don’t hab no shame.Have a safe and positive day. The lips of the wise spread knowledge not so the hearts of fools.
Are you saying intelligentsia that if someone makes a defamatory statement against you would be seeking to look into it? I think you
will be convince that the person defame you. Do you know how many times this con man says the thing about other’s situations he find himself in? Forget the Politicalitis and get up off your brains. No need to show your intelligent vs mine. Be careful. We used to say, me smell a rotten rat.
Even labourites should be sickened by this obvious falsehood. First he was legally and Anitguan citizen and the government was behind him 100%. Then he was thrown under the bus, one can only imagine why. Now it’s UPP’s fault? I’m not a fan of the UPP, but he was made a citizen under ABLP. Win elections free and fair and cut the crap.
Let remind you in case you are suffering from Amnesia. We in the UPPITES party in the 2004 elections tied LBB to Allen Sandford using the operative word “ CORRUPTION” and we won the government, we ended up in bed with the same Con Artist. Now fast forward the present PM make it public that this Con Man should go back home and cleared his name and because of our political alignment we are now singing a different tune. This is not a political issue. He should be encouraged to go back and clear his name. Asked yourself, How could anyone can live so lavishly in Wadadli for all this time? Where is money’s are coming from? Did he swindle these money’s as allege? Leroy King and Allen Sandford was saying and doing the same about getting lawyers to sue. Time longer than rope. Mind you don’t get rotten eggs in your face all because of political blindness.
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