Court to hear Mehul Choksi's extradition case in 3-hours

Roseau, Dominica: The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in Dominica has put a stay on the extradition of Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi after his lawyer in the country, registered a habeas corpus petition.

High Court Judge Justice Birnie Stephenson stated the matter would be heard again on May 28 at 9 am.

The Dominica court ruled that Choksi cannot be promptly removed from the country, and he should be given full access to his attorneys.

Choksi's local attorney's Wayne Norde, Julien Prevost, Cara Shillingford-Marsh and Wayne Benjamin Marsh, filed a writ of habeas corpus, a method used to bring a prisoner or other detainee before the court to decide if the person's imprisonment or detention is permitted.

A habeas petition continues as a civil action against the State agent (usually a warden) who takes the defendant in custody. The judge also agreed that Choksi's lawyers be permitted to meet with him immediately.

Mehul Choksi is an Indian fugitive who defrauded the country's second-largest lender Panjab National Bank (PNB), with the US $2 billion. He also holds citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda that he received in 2017 through the country's Citizenship by Investment Programme. He had gotten his Caribbean citizenship almost a year before his crime came into the limelight.

In a recent press release, the Ministry of National and Homeland Security Dominica confirmed Choksi's capture and stated he could be extradited back to Antigua. However, the final decision on repatriation could arrive in a few hours.

Mehul Choksi had disappeared from Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday; his car was discovered from Jolly Harbour in mysterious circumstances. After 24-hours of his disappearance, a missing report was filed. Prime Minister Gaston Browne had confirmed that Antigua and Barbuda do not want him back, and he must be extradited to India, where he is wanted in a $2 billion fraud.