Source: Sunday Guardian- The best efforts of the Indian government have failed to have any impact on fugitive Mehul Choksi who has been able to evade extradition for more than six years, after he fled India in January 2018.
His case has emerged as an example of how fugitives can evade law by fleeing to safe havens and live a new life without any fear.
To make matters worse, the Red Corner Lookout Notice (RCN) that was issued on India’s request by the Interpol, too was withdrawn in October 2022, just six days before India was supposed to host its Secretary General Jurgen Stock, who was in India for the 90th Interpol General Assembly.
Choksi had taken up the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda much before the Rs 12,000 cr Punjab National Bank scam became public and is staying within the Harbour Island area, which is a part of the Jolly Harbour village that is situated on the west coast of Antigua and Barbuda.
Delhi based government officials, who were associated in the efforts to bring back Choksi, believe that as of today, his extradition is “difficult” and has become an “insurmountable challenge”, while claiming that they have not stopped the effort to bring him back, an exercise which they said was happening at multiple levels.
According to them, the withdrawal of the RCN has been a big setback to the process and with the amount of money that Choksi has at his disposal, he has created multiple legal barriers to stop his deportation.
Apart from hiring a battery of international lawyers to stop his extradition, the 64-year-old Choksi has also engaged public relations firms and private investigators and firms to ensure that negative news about him is “controlled”. Private and independent investigators have in the past reported that Choksi had bribed local political officers, individuals and governmentofficials not to take a hostile approach against him, despite the local people of Antigua and Barbuda against hosting a known fugitive on their soil.
Choksi, through his team of lawyers brought from foreign countries, has challenged the extradition order that was issued against him in the past and the matter is still pending more than two years now.
When certain media outlets revealed that Choksi was allegedly being helped by local officials and politicians to avoid being extradited to India, Choksi, through his lawyers, wrote to the Registrar of the High Court and police commissioner, calling the allegations “baseless and defamatory” and termed it as an attempt to “undermine the judicial system in Antigua and Barbuda, both at home and abroad.”
In April last year, deciding on a suit filed by Choksi, a court in Antigua and Barbuda decided that there was an obligation on the part of the defendants, the Attorney General of Antigua and the Chief of Police to carry out a thorough inquiry on Choksi’s allegation that he was abducted from Antigua and Barbuda and taken to Dominica forcibly in a boat in May 2021, allegedly by people who were acting on behalf of Indian agencies.
Both the office of the Attorney General and the chief of police had termed Choksi’s claims as “frivolous, vexatious, and an abuse of the court’s process”. While hearing Choksi’s plea, the court in St Johns also prohibited his removal from Antigua and Barbuda without the court’s approval and until he exhausts all his legal remedies.
A spokesperson for Mr Choksi commented: “Mr Choksi has presented a compelling case that the Indian government is behind the orchestrated kidnap from Antiguan territory, the torture of Mr Choksi, and the attempt to render him to India in breach of the international rule of law. The judgment of the Antiguan courts, and of Interpol in removing the Red Notice against him, highlights the very real threat to Mr Choksi’s life that he would face in India given the country’s lack of concern for due process. Mr Choksi looks forward to the next court hearing in his efforts to ensure that a full and effective investigation is undertaken into his kidnapping.”
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
MONEY TALKS AND BS WALKS!
Choksi is an official sovereign citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. It is our country’s job to ensure that every citizen has equal due process rights under law.
Anybody who has done research about the situation knows that Choksi is a victim of political prosecution in India.
You have to wonder why the writer did it deem it necessary to state that Nirav Modi, Choksi nephew, is also wanted in the UK for the same crime. His extradition procedure has also been going on for over 6 years. Late last year in court he boasted that the process will have to take some more years. Fact is these things take time The question though is delaying these things a real benefit? Always been of the opinion that its best to get the hard things out the way as early of possible. Delaying may only make it worse
@tenman
Welcome back. You have been missing in action during a time when historical events are taking place.
Gaston and the ALBP has met their match in Mr. Mussington and Ms. Frank
Who has time for the fugitive Mehul Choksi when the Barbudans won their case for standing.
This matter has a long way to go, but they the Barbudans will prevail.
The Attorney General has tried to deflate the importance of the favorable ruling to the Barbudans.
Dr. Dorsett has been making his radio rounds and continue to make an ass of himself with his asinine suppositions. They both Dorsett and the AG fail to recognize that the Barbudans have a rock star legal team that is going to make chop meat out of them.
Racing ahead with the attempt opening of the Airport will only make things worse. Another retaining order is in the making, now that they have standing.
Purchasers were baited in PHL/BOC advertising, that they would be able to fly in on their private jets to a Terminal mere minute away from their mansions on the beach and be on the beach and or the golf course within minutes.
Without the new airport PLH/BOC is subjected to false advertising. These are litigious people with deep pockets, who will sue for damages. The houses will be valued less than half of the expected resale values.
Remember when Red Bull advertised; “Red Bull Give you wings. the class action suit against Red bull was that consumers claimed that Red Bull did not give them any wings after drinking Red bull for years. Red bull had to pay every consumer in the class action lawsuit $10.00 when a red bull cost 75 cents then.
No different from VW claims about diesel engines.
In this case of The Barbudans Mussington and Frank vs. GOAB at el, there is no excuse for trying to circumvent the environmental laws. I hope PLH/BOC contract with the GOAB does not call for the GOAB to hold them harmless and indemnify them against the results of any actions brought by the Barbudans.
Just imagine when a billionaire has to land in Antigua have to travel down to the helicopter pad passing the most run-down ghettos imaginable. Then fly over to Barbuda by Helicopter. These are people who only take helicopters to the Hamptons or to their homes in Bedminster NJ.
Welcome back and be ready next to debate the China MOU/Agreements.
* restraining order
@Country.. thats all wishful thinking on your part. I have always been here and all the BPM crew got the Privy counsel is the right to stand in line (Privy ruled they have standing). The battle will now start at the high court. Try and remember in the past the beating they have gotten eg via the issue of who owns the land there. As usual more blow for the BPM crew and their affiliates
@tenman,
With all the issues floating around: like LIAT (2020) ownership; Ten MOU with China you have been missing in action.
First: Let’s be clear, the Privy Council ruled they had the right to sue. Don’t conflate the issue, You were taught better, and you know better.
The litigants sort a restraining order before, and they won the restraining order, and it was appealed on the basis of standing.
My guess is there will be an application for a new restraining order at this point concerning the opening and operation of the airport.
Trevor and McKensie took a monumental drubbing with a poorly drafted and argued legal case, that was bound to fail.
GOAB attorneys naively thought since Trever and McKenzie lost on standing they GOAB were going to knock out Mussington and Frank on the basis of lack of standing.
The two individuals are members of the BPM, yes! They sued in their own person as individuals who has an interest in seeing that GOAB and its bodies follow the law.
When they won before, the GOAB threw up a Hail Mary on the issue of standing on which the Barbudans prevailed at the Privy Council.
Things are different this time around.
It’s a very different case with global ramifications, for these issues are affecting other indigenous people on sensitive lands; which is why the Barbudans globally recognized legal team will be making chop meat out of GOAB and its legal team.
Isn’t it ironic the GOAB is about to be hosting a conference of SIDS on Global Warming and its impact; and it has lost a monumental case on environmental issues.
There is no room for much by ABLP to spin on this one.
The real issue here is: what will be the reaction of the PLH/BOC purchasers who were promised a private airport; not knowing that the airport was being is illegally built.
Most bring Americans who are a very litigious people and can afford to sue.
Will they sue?
Has GOAB indemnified PLH and hold them harmless.
This case also shows individuals and groups can sue the Government, when they the Government do not follow the laws; and the Government illegal acts adversely affects them.
Comments are closed.