Dominica | Business Upturn

Dominican High Court denies bail to Mehul Choksi, calling him a ‘flight risk’

Himanjali Mahanta — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 05:47:35 +0000

Mehul Choksi, the fugitive jeweller wanted in India for allegedly swindling Rs 13,500 Crore from Punjab National Bank, has been denied bail by the high court in Dominica on the grounds that he is a “flight risk”, news agency ANI reported on Saturday citing local media.

Judge Wynante Adrien-Roberts of Dominica High Court also highlighted that Choksi did not have any ties with Dominica and the court could not impose any conditions which will stop him from leaving the country, the Antigua Newsroom reported.

Choksi had approached the high court after the magistrate had rejected his bail petition. Currently, he has got interim relief from immediate repatriation to India by the Dominican high court, according to ANI.

The 62-year-old fugitive will appear before Magistrate court again on Monday on a charge of illegal entry into Dominica, the Antigua Newsroom said.

The court verdict comes a few days after Dominica Prime Minister termed Choksi as an “Indian citizen”. “The matter with this Indian citizen is before the courts, the court will decide what happens to this gentleman and we allow the court process to go through,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit was quoted as saying in local media.

Mehul Choksi was caught when he was allegedly trying to escape to Cuba from Antigua, where he had been living since 2018 after leaving India. He reportedly left Antigua and took a boat to neighbouring Dominica. With an Interpol lookout circular against him, he was caught by the police from a beach in Dominica.

Choksi’s lawyers alleged that he was kidnapped in Antigua by policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian and brought to Dominica on a boat.

The diamond jeweller, along with this nephew Nirav Modi, is wanted by Indian investigating agencies for allegedly swindling Rs 13,500 Crore as loans from state-run Punjab National Bank using fake documents. Nirav Modi, jailed in London, is contesting his extradition to India.

Mehul Choksi’s wife rallies behind him, Here’s what happened

Govindraj Muttepawar — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:51:01 +0000

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the Indian-born fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi and demands for his extradition, his wife Priti Choksi on Wednesday said the woman who is rumoured to be his girlfriend is known to her husband and to his other acquaintances.

“The woman was known to my husband and to his other acquaintances. She walked with my husband periodically when she was visiting Antigua. From what I have understood from people who have met her, the woman shown on media channels is not the same woman that they knew as Barbara,” said Priti Choksi. These remarks came after Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne last week had said Mehul Choksi may have taken his girlfriend on a romantic trip to Dominica, where he was busted.

On the reports that fugitive diamantaire was tortured in Dominica, Priti said, “What has brought most anguish to the family is the physical torture and total disregard for the human rights of my husband. If someone really wanted him back alive, why did they need to torture and abuse him physically and mentally? My husband has many health issues.” On the question of Mehul Choki’s deportation, his wife said, “He is 63 years old and he is an Antiguan citizen. He enjoys all the rights and protection that the Antigua and Barbuda constitution gives him. I have full faith in the rule of law and the justice system of the Caribbean nations. We await his safe and rightful return to Antigua at the earliest.”

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. Choksi fled the country was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018. Earlier today, Antigua Prime Minister had told ANI that his administration stands by its request for Dominica to extradite Mehul Choksi, directly back to India, “where he is still a citizen.” “Instead of subjecting himself to an inquiry as required by law, he (Mehul Choksi) used the courts to stay the revocation of his citizenship,” Antigua PM. “My administration stands by its request to Dominica to extradite Mehul Choksi directly back to India where he is still a citizen,” he added.

The Antigua Prime Minister told ANI that Mehul Choksi “changed his lawyer to a well-known member of the UPP who had promised him protection, for campaign funding”. “That’s why they want that he shouldn’t be deported to India, but back to Antigua where he could continue to hide behind constitutional protections,” Browne said. Associates Times citing sources had reported that Mehul Choksi’s brother, who is also a bank defaulter, allegedly promised election funding to Dominica’s Leader of the Opposition Lennox Linton in exchange for pushing Mehul Choksi’s abduction theory.

The sources said Chetan Chinu Bhai Choksi had met Linton on May 30, where they discussed several aspects related to Mehul Choksi’s arrest and agreed on the commitment that in exchange for token money and promise of election donation, the opposition leader will press the matter in Parliament. They also told Associates Times that Chetan disclosed during the conversation that Mehul had reached Dominica on his own, but they require the assistance of the opposition to tackle the matter in court and against the Dominica government to make them believe that he was abducted by Antiguan and Indian police.

Sources cited by Associates Times also said Chetan gave Linton token money of USD 200,000 and promised him more than a million-dollar of financial assistance in the upcoming general elections and in exchange Linton would issue statements favouring Mehul Choksi. Meanwhile, a team from India has arrived in Dominica, ahead of a Caribbean court hearing that will decide on whether fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi will be deported to India.

Dominica opposition slams PM Roosevelt Skerrit over Mehul Choksi episode, demands full investigation

Aryan Jakhar — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 07:46:40 +0000

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Dominica House of Assembly, Lennox Linton, on Monday slammed Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit’s government and issued a strong statement on the entire episode of India-born businessman Mehul Choksi, saying ‘no law, no constitution’ lives in the country.

“‘No Law, No Constitution’ and Dominica’s deteriorating international image,” Linton said in a statement to ANI.

A new charge has also been levelled against Skerrit by the main opposition party in Dominica, alleging that the Dominican Prime Minister is also part of the same conspiracy involving Choksi.

“The presence of Indian born Antigua and Barbuda citizen Mehul Choksi in Dominica following allegations that he was kidnapped in Antigua, beaten, ferried to Dominica and taken into the country against his will, highlights once again the extent to which departments of government are involved in the organised crime under the influence and/or direction of the regime of Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit,” the opposition leader told ANI.

Earlier on Choksi’s arrest in Dominica, Antiguan PM Gaston Browne exclusively told ANI over the phone that he had spoken to the Dominican government and the Indian Ambassador regarding the fugitive diamantaire’s repatriation.

“The Indian government can send a private jet to Dominica for the deportation of Mehul Choksi. I have spoken to the Prime Minister of Dominica and the Indian Ambassador in this regard,” Antigua PM told ANI.

Choksi had gone missing from Antigua on May 23 after going out for dinner and was soon caught in Dominica. He is currently in the Quarantine Center in Dominica.

In addition, Linton has also demanded a full investigation in connection with Choksi on the way he was brought against his will in Dominica.

“The obvious collaboration between the governments of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda and India is undermining the judiciary in the Eastern Caribbean. The Police, Immigration and Customs Officials openly allowed violations of the law to 1) facilitate the operators of St Lucia based schooner; and 2) detain Choksi on allegations of illegal entry. The Ministers of Government who instructed and/or influenced Police, Immigration and Customs Officials to unlawfully facilitate the inhumane transfer of Choksi to Dominica,” he said.

Choksi wanted in India on bank fraud charges, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and money laundering, had bought Antigua and Barbuda citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment Program in 2017. He has been living in Antigua and Barbuda since 2018 and is opposing court action to revoke his Antiguan citizenship and have him extradited to India.

The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s next hearing is on June 2 to decide on Choksi’s deportation to the country concerned.

‘Mehul Choksi has committed a crime and he is our citizen, hand him over’: India tells Dominica

Govindraj Muttepawar — Sun, 30 May 2021 09:14:38 +0000

Efforts have been scaled up to bring back fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi. Multiple agencies are in touch with the government of Dominica on the issue which has been told that Choksi is originally an Indian citizen and had taken on new citizenship to escape the law in India after having committed a fraud of almost two billion US dollars.

It is reliably gathered that India through back-channel and the diplomatic route has clearly told Dominica that Mehul Choksi should be treated as a fugitive Indian citizen who has an Interpol Red Corner notice against him and he should be handed over to Indian authorities for deportation and to face the law in India for his alleged deeds which have robbed the Indian public of billions of dollars. There is no case for Choksi to deny his Indian citizenship as any other citizenship is a front to hide his alleged crimes.

In fact, neighbouring Antigua has also urged Dominica to hand over Choksi to India directly. However, Dominica remains non-committal and two days back issued a statement saying that Choksi will be handed over to Antigua. Choksi enjoys full legal protection in Antigua and it will be time-consuming to extradite Choksi to India from there. Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne has told ANI in an interview that Choksi will not be allowed to enter back in Antigua for where Choksi fled and illegally sneaked into Dominica and was caught.

Domestic politics of Antigua and the commonwealth of Dominica has also come into play, according to local media reports. The opposition parties in Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica are making full attempts to grab political mileage by supporting the Indian fugitive in return for campaign financing.

According to a report published on the website of WIC news, “It was alleged that the opposition leader of UPP, Jamale Pringle had an under-table meeting with the family of fugitive Mehul Choksi and has made a special unofficial funding agreement with them to raise the voice of Choksi in the parliament.” “Whether it is the United Progressive Party (UPP) of Antigua and Barbuda or the United Workers Party (UWP) of Dominica, the two are on the race track to win a spot to back Mehul Choksi as they aspire to receive his support in their future political endeavours, these claims are made by some Caribbean political strategists with years of experience in the region,” said the local media reports.

The political and money power of Choksi likely to be on display on June 2 when his hearing comes up. He had hired a crack team of lawyers and is building local political support, say informed sources. However, a lot will depend on back-channel pressure along with Interpol’s pressure for Choksi to be handed over to India. A Dominican court has extended till June 2 its order restraining the extradition of Choksi from Dominica. The High Court will also hear the Indian fugitive’s habeas corpus plea on that date

Dominica Court extends stay on Mehul Choksi’s deportation to India

Aryan Jakhar — Sat, 29 May 2021 06:35:42 +0000

The High Court of Dominica on Friday “restrained” the extradition of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. As per reports, 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 decision came while the court was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Choksi’s lawyers. The 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”.

The respondents (the Attorney General and the Chief of Police) have been asked to file their affidavits by 10.30 on Tuesday, and the applicant (Choksi) to file an affidavit in reply, if necessary, on or before 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

To recall, Choksi went missing from Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday, sparking a massive manhunt. He was captured on Tuesday night in Toucari Beach, a small village located in the northwestern coast of the island, by Dominican police while allegedly trying to flee to Cuba in a boat. The fugitive diamantaire had been living in Antigua and Barbuda since 2018 after taking the citizenship of the country.

The Centre is reportedly in touch with Dominica authorities to bring back fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi from the Caribbean region. While the Dominican government is reticent on India’s effort to get the disgraced businessman back, it said it would make “possible arrangements” for his repatriation to Antigua.

Note that several news reports emanating from Roseau, the capital of Dominica, mentioned that Choksi’s lawyer has claimed before local journalists that the businessman had been kidnapped from Antigua by men who sounded Indian and brought to Dominica, where he was allegedly beaten up.

In fact, Choksi’s lawyer in India, Vijay Agarwal, told news agency IANS 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,” Agarwal was quoted saying.

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

The Dominican government’s made its stance on Choksi’s deportation somewhat clear a day after Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne made a statement, mentioning that he had asked the Dominican authorities to extradite the diamantaire to India rather than send him back to Antigua.