Indian Officials May Send Team For Choksi – Reports

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(Economic Times India)

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), one of the central agencies investigating the alleged US$ 2 billion Punjab National BankNSE -1.22 % (PNB) scam, is mulling the idea of sending a team to Antigua and Barbuda. 

The twin Carribean island nation had recently assured verbally that they were willing to expedite the extradition of jeweller Mehul Choksi, who is an accused in the case, sources said. 

The assurance comes in the wake of the Red Corner Notice (RCN) issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) against Choksi last month. In the past, Antigua and Barbuda had expressed reservations on sending back its citizen to India citing the nonissuance of RCN by the Interpol as the reason. 

“In July last year, Antigua and Barbuda expressed reservation stating that the citizenship to Choksi was granted based on a Police Clearance Certificate issued by the Regional Passport Office, Mumbai and documents received from the Sebi in 2017.

However, they assured us to relook at the request once the RCN is issued and now with the RCN in place, they have orally agreed to help the CBI in getting Choksi to justice. A team might be shortly visiting the twin Carribean island nation,” said a senior official.

“The purpose of the visit would be to present its case before the appropriate authority and also fight the extradition legally. Last year, we had sent an extradition request under the provision of UN Convention against Corruption to which both Antigua & Barbuda and India are signatory to. This will be our starting point. The fact that the country has agreed to bring its citizen to book is a big diplomatic victory,” the official added. 

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13 COMMENTS

  1. I wonder where the back pay money came from?

    This Antigua citizen is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. At this moment Choksi is innocent so why not benefit from his bank account as long as possible.

  2. Choksi is innocent and he is a victim of a political persecution in India. Just do research on Google and you will see that he is being attacking by political opponents rather than genuine investigators.

    I am glad PM and the government are giving Choksi the maximum protection possible. If I were Choksi, I would immediately a political asylum request.

    Antigua must protect all of its citizens against evil big bully countries like India.

    • I have seen your comments on multiple articles in the same website. You seem to be connected to the lawyers of Choksi or some PR agency to improve his image (which he hasn’t got one). I know it pays to defend criminals, but you need to be good at your job. Honestly, you are very bad at your job. Your argument that Choksi is a victim of political persecution is so absurd and stupid, is unbelievable. Choksi and Modi come from state of Gujarat, home state of PM Modi. In fact. Choksi’s nephew, Nirav Modi was also pictured with PM in WEF Davos. just before the scandal broke out. So you need to better in your job. Looks like he is going back to India, along with ypur job.

  3. MOTHER OF ALL JUDICIAL CHALLENGES

    Not sure who is saying ‘…Mehul Choski is guilty of any crime.’

    That has clearly not been the issue, neither for (i) …himself; …the Requesting State; and (iii) …the Requested State.’

    The only how a ‘…team of foreign officials’ may travel here to take custody of a ‘…wanted fugitive from justice,’ is if the authorities deal with a particular matter in a particular ‘…administrative way.’

    There has been a recent precedent. This was established when ‘…businessman/murder suspect Morrad ‘Ayoushe’ Ghonim’ was officially declared ‘…persona non grata.’

    Mehul Choski’s case is totally different. A formal request has been made for extradition.
    There was no extradition request and there was no need for any judicial proceedings.

    At this stage, it is not about ‘…trial, conviction or acquittal.’ It is about extradition to his country of domicile for criminal investigation/interrogation.

    He has the ‘wherewithal’ and he has shown a ‘…persistent unenviable and disgusted fearlessness’ in challenging the authorities through the judiciary.

    ‘Ayoushe’ was subsequently handed over to US Marshalls waiting on hand to escort him back to their jurisdiction [May 23, 2015].

    He was wanted by United States Federal law enforcement authorities for allegedly ‘…hired a hit-man’ to eliminate his then 17 year-old wife Maria ‘Vicki’ Ghonim from his, and for life.

    It was instructive that after the ‘…administrative decision,’ then Police Press Liaison Officer Sergeant Frankie Thomas clearly ‘…playing monkey games’ with the police department, stated in a Press Release ‘…the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda, on May 22, 2015, in the interest of national security, declared him persona non grata’ [Times Caribbean: May 23, 2015].

    Those games may have long been over. However, know that this is going to be the ‘…Mother of All Judicial Challenges.’

  4. UNLESS DIVORCED – STILL HIS WIFE

    ‘Ayoushe’ may have been convicted of murder and now serving a life sentence.

    With one wife killed, he had not committed ‘…Bigamy.’

    Unless divorced, the former Miss Dominica [2012], Nadira Lando, is still legally bonded.

    With her spouse incarcerated, not sure if she would keep the matrimonial bond intact.

  5. For the short time he has been here he has another matter on hand where a newly employed person has left him and seeking redress for harassment and mistreatment.

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