Mehul Choski is in jail in Dominica, the place he has been charged with unlawful entry (File)
New Delhi:
The authorities and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have sought to hitch fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s case within the Dominica High Court, sources stated right now.
While the CBI will deal with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) rip-off case, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will argue on Choksi’s citizenship standing, sources add.
The CBI has filed an ‘impleadment’ utility within the Caribbean nation’s courtroom on 62-year-old Choksi’s habeas corpus plea.
The company seeks to submit the PNB case particulars towards the jeweller earlier than the excessive courtroom to ascertain that he’s a fugitive, sources say.
Relying on the non-bailable warrants issued towards Choksi by Indian courts for skipping summons, CBI has submitted, “Choksi, a fugitive” is evading justice within the Rs 13,500 crore PNB rip-off case.
India, via the MEA, has filed a separate utility to hitch the proceedings within the Dominica High Court.
Choksi remains to be an Indian citizen and has not surrendered his passport, the MEA stated in its utility, sources say, including that he has not accomplished his citizenship renunciation course of.
Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, too, known as Choksi an “Indian citizen” simply days in the past.
If the CBI and MEA pleas are allowed, former Solicitor-General Harish Salve will symbolize each CBI and MEA within the Dominica High Court.
The excessive courtroom has adjourned Choksi’s habeas corpus plea for July and prolonged its order on eradicating him from Dominica until the completion of the proceedings.
In a separate case filed by Choksi searching for bail for illegally getting into the territory, the Dominica High Court has upheld the Justice of the Peace’s order denying him bail on the grounds that he’s a “flight risk”.
Mehul Choksi had fled to Antigua in 2018, after buying a citizenship from that nation, as CBI and Enforcement Directorate investigations into the PNB case had been selecting up tempo.
He was caught allegedly making an attempt to flee from Antigua to Cuba by way of Dominica final month. He went lacking May 25, prompting a manhunt by Antigua police, and was caught May 27 in Dominica.
After his arrest in Dominica, Antigua stated Mehul Choksi ought to be handed over to India instantly.
However, Choksi’s lawyer has stated his shopper is not an Indian citizen and might solely be despatched again to Antigua, the place he’s already preventing circumstances associated to his citizenship and extradition.
His nephew Nirav Modi is presently in jail in London and contesting his extradition to India.
