Mehul Choksi is a fugitive diamond trader in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case, has gone missing. The CBI has launched an investigation on Choksi, who was hiding on the island of Antigua, who has now disappeared, according to police reports.
Choksi, who was hiding on the island of Antigua, went missing, his lawyer Vijay Agarwal said. His family members are worried in the wake of Choksi’s disappearance. According to local media reports, Choksi went to a popular restaurant for dinner on Sunday night. Antigua police said Choksi’s vehicle was found in a Jolly Harbour near a restaurant.
Antigua police have registered a missing person case and are looking for him. However, he is suspected to have fled for fear of being extradited to India.
An official says he may have fled to Cuba. Because India has no criminal extradition treaty with Cuba.
In 2017, Mehul Choksi became a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. In 2018 after the PNB scandal broke out Mehul Choksi along with Neerav Modi fled the country. Neerav Modi and Mehul Choksi are both relatives.
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After Antigua revoked his citizenship just last year, he turned to the Civil Court in St. John’s. Choksi. However, CBI officials believe that the Choksi petition may have been dismissed as the government had decided to defraud Indian banks and seek asylum in their country in the name of fixed investment.
They also said that the extradition of Choksi to India would begin soon, as promised by Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne. Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has previously approved the revocation of Mehul Choksi’s citizenship following diplomatic pressure.
It was made clear in June 2019 that criminals and perpetrators of financial crimes have no place in their country.
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Mr. Choksi’s lawyer responded in March to media claiming that Choksi’s citizenship had been not been canceled by an Antiguan civil court. according to Mr. Aggarwal, is still an Antiguan citizen.
Mr. Choksi previously defended his innocence and stated that the charges against him are baseless, false, and are motivated by political expediency in an interview with ANI.
Nirav Modi, a 50-year-old billionaire jeweler, is also wanted in connection with the PNB bank scam, Mr. Modi, like his uncle, left India in 2018 and is currently residing in the United Kingdom.
The British authorities approved the diamond trader Nirav Modi’s extradition to India last month. After the London court verdict on the PNB scam as Modi is the main accused in the case, on the other hand, he still appeals the extradition order to the UK High Court.
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