Mehul Choksi was given citizenship after India government's clearance: Antigua
New Delhi, Aug 3 (IBNS): Adding a twist to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, the Antigua government has said fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi was given citizenship after getting a clearance from the Indian government, media reports said.
Choksi was given citizenship last year by Antigua after getting a police clearance certificate from the government. The certificate said there was "no adverse information" against Choksi.
Antigua's statement has been quoted by NDTV, "The said police clearance certificate from the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs Regional Passport Office, Mumbai, certified that there was no adverse information against Mr. Mehul Chinubbhai Choksi which would render him ineligible for grant of travel facilities including visa for Antigua and Barbuda."
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 was quoted by NDTV.
Choksi was granted the citizenship in November, last year, 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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