Mehul Choksi
Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi captured in Dominica: Reports
New Delhi/IBNS: Fugitive diamond business merchant Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India over the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has been captured from Dominica while trying to flee to Cuba, media reports said.
Earlier this week, the 62-year-old went missing in the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, media reports said.
Choksi, who is wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), fled to Antigua and Barbuda in 2018.
His disappearance came amid efforts to extradite him by the CBI and the ED, which are investigating the Rs. 14,000 crore fraud at India's second-largest state-owned bank.
"Sources said Mehul Choksi had reached Dominica -- a tiny island nation in the Caribbean -- by boat. With a lookout circular issued against him, he was caught by the local police and is currently in their custody," NDTV reported.
"The process of handing him over to the Antigua authorities is on and the CBI and ED have been informed that he has been found," NDTV quoting sources said.
"Sources in the CBI said his attempt to flee will make their case stronger in Antiguan courts and they are confident that he would be in India sooner," the channel reported.
However, Antigua has no extradition agreement with India and Choksi is presently an Antiguan citizen.
Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne had reportedly said Choksi has two cases against him in Antigua courts-extradition and revocation of citizenship.
Choksi's brother-in-law Nirav Modi, a diamond czar, is also accused in the same case.
Like his uncle, Modi fled India in 2018 and is presently in the United Kingdom.
UPDATE TO THE STORY:
According to ANI, Choksi will be deported to India directly from Dominica. Formal communication is being sent to Dominica from Antigua for formalities. Dominica/Antigua will contact India.
Antiguan PMO to ANI: "We have asked the Dominican Government to detain him for entering their country illegally, to make him persona non grata and have him deported directly to India."
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