Fugitive Mehul Choksi to Remain in Dominica, Next Hearing on June 2: Court

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi. (ANI photo)

NEW DELHI – The High Court of Dominica May 29 once again “restrained” the extradition of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case.

Justice M.E. Birnie Stephenson, in her order, extended the injunction on removing Choksi from Dominica “until further or other hearing of this application is continued until the further hearing of this matter.”

The next hearing of the case is scheduled for June 2.

The court’s decision came while it was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Choksi’s lawyers.

The Dominican court further stated that Choksi “must be taken transported to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital for medical attention and the administration of a Covid-19 test.”

Choksi, who is wanted in India by the CBI and the ED for the Rs 13,500 crore PNB loan fraud case, went missing from Antigua and Barbuda last week, sparking a massive manhunt. He was captured in Dominica on May 26.

Earlier in the day, Choksi’s lawyer in India, Vijay Agarwal, told IANS, “Upon the filing of the habeas corpus petition titled ‘Mehul Choksi vs Attorney General of Commonwealth of Dominica and Chief of Police’, a Dominica court has ordered a restraint on removing Choksi from the land of Dominica until further order.”

On May 27 night, Agarwal had said that Choksi was forced to get into a vessel from Antigua and was taken to Dominica. He also claimed that there were marks on Choksi’s body, implying the use of force.

“There is something fishy and I guess it was a strategy to take him to another place so that there are chances of sending him back to India. So I don’t know what forces are operating. The time will tell,” he had said.

However, Antigua Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney has dismissed the claims of Choksi’s counsel and said that they have no information on him being forcefully removed.

On May 26, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne had said that the fugitive diamantaire “needs to return to India” where he can face the criminal charges levelled against him. Antigua News Room quoted Browne as telling journalists in Antigua and Barbuda: “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.”

Choksi, an accused in the PNB loan fraud case along with his nephew Nirav Modi, has been residing in Antigua and Barbuda since Jan. 4, 2018. The CBI and ED, which have filed separate chargesheets in the case, are trying for the extradition of Choksi.