By Venkatesh Raghavan
Mumbai: Despite wire reports stating that Mehul Choksi will be deported to India once the Dominican court decides on his fate for illegally entering their country, Indian intelligence based on official channels from Antigua contended that his getting deported to India was ruled out.
The intelligence wing informed that Choksi had attained the citizenship of Antigua way back in 2018. As per rules, once an Indian citizen acquires citizenship of another country, he ceases to be an Indian citizen. The intelligence officer further clarified that after the Dominican High Court decides on the course of action over his illegal presence in their country, Choksi will get deported to Antigua.
A team of Indian authorities that included officers of Enforcement Directorate and the CBI were present at the Dominican court to seek the custody of Choksi. The Dominican court has adjourned the hearing on the case till July, 2021.
Counsel for Choksi contended that it was a bailable offence as many who were charged on similar counts had obtained bail. The court denied bail on the ground that there was an Interpol red corner alert on Choksi and his bail plea merited being treated differently.
Earlier, Choksi pleaded through his counsel that he had been kidnapped and brought into Dominica. His presence in the country was not voluntary. The hearing on Choksi got adjourned till July.
According to the Indian team that visited Dominica, Choksi had sought to flee to Cuba and was intercepted en-route. The police at Antigua had launched a search for Choksi from May 23, 2021. On May 27, Choksi was nabbed for being illegally present in Dominica.
In Antigua too, Choksi is facing court battles over his alleged illegal dealings. It may be recalled that Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi had fled the country after being named in the Punjab National Bank scam which ran into over INR 1300 crores. Nirav is currently battling deportation proceedings in a London court.
Also read: PNB recovers $3.25 million in Nirav Modi case from USA
The team of Indian authorities from Enforcement Directorate and CBI bank securities returned, who visited Dominica for custody of Choksi, returned home empty handed on the night of Thursday, June 3, 2021.
The PNB fraud came to light in February 2018 after the letters of understanding issued in Nirav, his family members and Uncle Mehul Choksi to overseas branches of other banks including Allahabad bank and Axis bank came to light after the recruitment of a new employee. All the accused in the scam including Nirav, his immediate family and uncle Choksi had already fled from Indian shores by the time the media got wise to it.
