Dominica police arrests Mehul Choksi from Roseau

Dominica: Indian fugitive who gone missing in Antigua and Barbuda was arrested by Dominica police force on Wednesday morning from Roseau, Dominica.

According to the local police, Choksi was spotted at Canefield beach in Roseau, disposing off some documents. Following the suspicion, police officials reached out to him and asked for his purpose to visit the country to which he refused to address. Read More.

Police said that he was immediately taken into custody. Later, It was revealed that he was the most wanted fugitive for multi-million fraud in India who left Antigua and Barbuda allegedly fearing extradition on Sunday evening. They added that professional scuba divers have been placed to retrieve the disposed of documents, but so far, no update has been given by them.

Earlier this month, Dominican Police had also arrested 19 Indians for overstaying in Dominica. All of them belonged to Gujarat, India and were on their way to illegally depart the country to enter the United States. Notably, a close aide of Choksi, Govin, had revealed that Mehul Choksi might have left for his safehouse in Cuba. It is anticipated that the international wanted fugitive was planning to use Dominica as a passage to reach Cuba. Govin had also indicated that Choksi was holding citizenship of another Caribbean country apart from Antigua and Barbuda. Still, police said he did not furnish any documents or passport related to his citizenship in any country. [caption id="attachment_34863" align="alignleft" width="1066"] Image of Govin[/caption]

Govin also revealed that he stayed with Choksi throughout the period he had been in Antigua and Barbuda.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne stated on Monday that the officials were informed by someone from Choksi’s house that he had gone missing, and the police recovered the vehicle he was driving without any signs of him around. PM Browne had stated that no movement was noticed at the airport, revealing his departure to Cuba was found. “No one knows where he is,” noted the Antiguan Prime Minister.

Browne stated on Monday evening that the matter of Choksi’s extradition to India is before the court, and they want him to get justice. Top Antiguan government officials had told the media that there wouldn’t be any extradition case if Choksi is not traced.

The authorities in Dominica have not revealed whether Mehul Choksi will be sent back to Antigua or extradited to India.

Mehul Choksi is wanted in India

Mehul Choksi and his nephew, who is also facing extradition charges while remaining in the UK prison, allegedly siphoned off over the US $2 billion (13,500 crore rupees) of public money from the Punjab National Bank, managed by the state.

Choksi is accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of a multi-million scam on Punjab National Bank. According to reports, Choksi has had taken the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in the year 2017 through the Citizenship by Investment programme and surrendered his Indian citizenship/passport prior to fleeing India in January 2018.

Mehul Choksi owns Gitanjali Group, a jewellery firm that has more than 4,000 outlets in India. The Central Bureau of Investigation reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs seeking assistance for the extradition of fugitive Mehul Choksi from Antigua and Barbuda. Notably, both countries, India and Antigua and Barbuda, do not have an extradition treaty.

Making it more difficult for Choksi, the Indian government managed to name him in an Interpol Red Notice strengthening the case of extradition. The government of Antigua and Barbuda had earlier informed the government of India that despite the absence of an extradition treaty, fugitive Mehul Choksi could be extradited to India as both of the countries are members of the Commonwealth.

India several times asked the government of Antigua and Barbuda to hand over Choksi to the Indian agencies; however, despite years of communications, he was not extradited. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in March 2021 that Mehul Choksi “is coming to India.” The Indian Minister had stated that Mehul Choksi, along with his Nephew Nirav Modi will have to face the law of the land.

A new passage

It is anticipated that Mehul Choksi - who defrauded Punjab National Bank with the US $2 billion, was using Dominica as a passage to reach Cuba as India also does not have an extradition treaty with the country. His close ally Gavin made the revelation, who told the local media that he might have flown to Cuba to safeguard himself from possible extradition to India.

It is believed that Choksi was taking a route from the Caribbean Island of Dominica to neighbouring Cuba; however, his efforts failed when the police caught him, and he was unable to prove his reason for visiting Dominica. It is not yet clear how Choksi reached the country, but the officials believe he must have reached through illegal passages. More thorough investigations are undergoing. Police officials stated that the divers are looking for the documents he attempted to dispose of in the Caribbean Sea.