Mehul Choksi alleges kidnapping; lawyer says he is non-Indian, can’t be repatriated

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne mentioned that Choksi made a ‘monumental error’ by escaping from Antigua and Barbuda. (File)

Whereas Antigua and Barbuda work in the direction of Mehul Choksi’s repatriation to India, the fugitive businessman’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal mentioned that his shopper is not an Indian citizen and therefore can’t be despatched again to India. He mentioned that Choksi can solely be handed over to Antigua and Barbuda. Aggarwal mentioned that his authorized workforce had already filed a habeas corpus petition in Dominica citing ‘deprivation of entry’ and ‘authorized help’ to him. He mentioned that there shouldn’t be hypothesis until one finds out the precise truth about how Mehul Choksi landed up in Dominica. The lawyer claimed that Choksi reaching Dominica was not voluntary and he’s smelling one thing fishy.

“As per the Indian Citizenship Act Part 9, the second Mehul Choksi acquired the citizenship of Antigua, he ceased to be a citizen of India. Therefore legally as per the immigration and passport Act Part 17 and 23, he may be deported solely to Antigua. Furthermore, there’s an Antiguan Excessive Court docket order restraining processing any request from India,” Aggarwal mentioned.

Choksi, who went lacking on Saturday, was arrested in Dominica on Might 26. Choksi’s counsel in Dominica, Wayne Marsh, claimed that the businessman advised him he was kidnapped by ‘an Indian and Antiguan’ police officer on Might 23 whereas visiting a restaurant for dinner. Choksi claimed that the abductors masked him and put him on a yacht that had a Dominican flag. He was taken to the southern tip of Dominica the place he was stored until he was arrested by the native police on Might 26, mentioned Marsh, alleging that the businessman had a swollen eye and a number of other bruises when he met him.

Dominica additionally hinted that Choksi will likely be repatriated to Antigua. The island nation’s Ministry of Nationwide Safety and Residence Affairs mentioned in an announcement that Choksi had been detained for ‘unlawful entry’. It mentioned that the Dominica authorities was in contact with Antigua and Barbuda to establish Choksi’s citizenship standing and as soon as the data is obtained, doable preparations will likely be made for Choksi to be repatriated to Antigua.

In the meantime, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne had requested Dominica to repatriate Choksi to India instantly. “The Dominican authorities is cooperating with the Antiguan and Indian governments. We’ve requested Dominican regulation enforcement businesses to not return him to Antigua, the place he has authorized and constitutional rights as a citizen. We particularly requested them to have Indian regulation enforcement businesses make obligatory preparations to have him returned on to India,” Browne advised ANI.

Browne mentioned that Choksi made a ‘monumental error’ by escaping from Antigua and Barbuda.

Mehul Choksi is accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank (PNB) of just about Rs 13,600 crore. He fled from India in January 2018. He took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda on January 15, 2018, below the Citizenship for Funding programme.

In response to experiences, India can be trying into the circumstances resulting in Choksi’s arrest and analyzing the choices it has to carry him again. The federal government authorities are in contact with the Antigua and Barbuda and Dominican governments.