Scamster Mehul Choksi Who Fled Antigua Detained In Dominica, Could Be Deported To India Soon

Mehul Choksi, one of the key accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case who was reported missing from his hideout in Antigua a couple of days ago has been detained in Dominica.

The fugitive diamantaire who is wanted by the CBI and the ED in connection with the Rs 13,500 crore fraud case was reported missing on Sunday from Antigua and Barbuda, where he had taken citizenship, sparking a manhunt for the fugitive businessman.

File Image

On Sunday, the Commissioner of the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Atlee Rodney, had said the force is currently following up on the whereabouts of Choksi, who is reportedly missing.

Interpol's yellow notice issued

Police in Dominica captured Choksi on Tuesday night (local time) after an Interpol Yellow Notice was issued by Antigua and Barbuda.

The Yellow Notice is issued by Interpol to track missing persons.

BCCL

Choksi, who was last seen going for dinner in his car in Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday reportedly fled to the neighboring island on a boat.

He was reported as missing by his employees when he did not return.

Choksi took Antigua and Barbuda citizenship in 2017

Choksi had taken citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme before escaping India in the first week of January 2018.

Following his escape and capture Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has asked Dominica to hand the diamantaire over to India directly, local media reported.

BCCL

"We asked them not to repatriate him to Antigua. He needs to return to India where he can face the criminal charges levelled against him," Antigua News Room, a media outlet, quoted Browne's interaction with journalists.

Browne later confirmed to ANI that Dominica has agreed Choksi's repatriation and Antigua will not accept him back.

Browne said he has requested PM Skerrit and law enforcement in Dominica to not return Choksi to Antigua where he has legal and constitutional protections as a citizen.

"We've requested that he be detained and to make arrangements with Dominican govt to have him returned to India," he said.

62-year-old Choksi has been evading Indian agencies and had repeatedly refused to come to the country for interrogation.

Choksi along with his nephew Nirav Modi who had defrauded the PNB using fraudulent LoUs had fled India in January 2018 before the scam surfaced.

The Telegraph

While Choksi fled to the Caribbean, Modi has been hiding in London where he has arrested in March 2019.

He too is facing extradition to India in connection with the case.