Stop Mehul Choksi's movement by air, land or sea, India requests Antigua
New Delhi, July 30 (IBNS): The Indian government on Monday requested the Antigua authorities to stop fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi from travelling by air, land or sea, media reports said.
Choksi was granted Antiguan citizenship last year.
"As soon as the Ministry of External Affairs received information of the likely presence of Mehul Choksi in Antigua, the High Commission in Georgetown alerted the Antigua and Barbuda government, in writing and verbally, to confirm his presence in their territory and detain him and prevent his movement by land, air or sea," NDTV reported quoting government source.
The Antigua government earlier said it will extradite Mehul Choksi if India requests.
In that case, the absence of any treaty between India and Antigua won't be a hurdle to Choksi's extradition.
Choksi said that he had applied for Antigua citizenship for business interests.
In a statement, Choksi said he wanted to expand his business in the Caribbean and obtain a visa-free travel to 130 countries.
Asserting that his application for the citizenship was as per law, Choksi had said through his lawyer, "My application is motivated by my desire to expand my business interest in the Caribbean and to obtain visa-free travel access to 130 or so countries."
The statement had been quoted by NDTV.
Choksi was granted the citizenship in November, reports said.
Choksi, along with his nephew and diamond czar Nirav Modi, is wanted by Indian investigating agencies in the PNB fraud case.
He had fled to the U.S. in the first week of January, days before the country's biggest banking fraud surfaced.
According to reports, the Enforcement Directorate was informed about Choksi’s presence in Antigua on July 20.
After Interpol authorities confirmed it, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) wrote to the Antiguan authorities, seeking details regarding his whereabouts.
The CBI has booked Choksi in two cases related to the PNB scam and filed a charge sheet against him. A special court in Mumbai issued a Non-Bailable Warrant against him.
CBI's request for a Red Notice is currently pending with the Interpol.
The Directorate has also invoked the Fugitive Economic Offenders Ordinance against Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi.
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