Will extradite Mehul Choksi if India requests: Antigua government
New Delhi, July 28 (IBNS): The Antigua government has said it will extradite fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who has acquired the citizenship of the Caribbean islands, before the $2billion Punjab National Scam (PNB) scam came to light, media reports said.
After a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Antigua Foreign Minister EP Chet Green said his government will extradite 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.
So far, no request has been made by the Indian government, the report said.
"However, if a request is received, we will honour any legitimate request made of us notwithstanding that we do not have any extradition agreements with India," the foreign ministry has been quoted by NDTV.
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 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 has 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.
However, India does not have an extradition treaty with Antigua, which makes it difficult to get hold of Choksi, reports said.
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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