Passport to Antigua: Mehul Choksi surrenders Indian citizenship

Manglore Today News Network

Mumbai, Jan 21, 2019 : Absconding Punjab National Bank fraud accused Mehul Choksi has surrendered his Indian passport to the Antiguan government where he had been taking refuge for more than a year, MEA sources told The Quint.

 

In July 2018, Choksi had moved from the United States to Antigua and had acquired a passport of the Caribbean country after taking an oath of allegiance.

Choksi and his nephew, fugitive jeweller Nirav Modi, are under probe by both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED filed money laundering cases against them and others on 15 February 2018 on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI.

On 25 December, Choksi had told a court that he cannot come to India for investigation as he cannot bear a 41-hour long journey from Antigua owing to his “poor health.” However, in his written reply, Choksi had informed the court that he is willing to join the investigation through video conferencing.

On 4 January, the ED said it has sent a request for attachment of a factory premises in Thailand worth Rs 13 crore owned by Abbeycrest Ltd, a company of Mehul Choksi’s Gitanjali Group, in connection with its ongoing investigation into the Rs 13,500-crore PNB fraud case.

The financial probe agency said it has sought attachment of the assets by Thailand authorities under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act by sending a provisional attachment order in the form of letters rogatory.

The Interpol, on 13 December, has issued a red corner notice (RCN) against Choksi after a request from the CBI.

According to officials, with the RCN, Choksi could be arrested by any of the 192 member countries of the Interpol after which extradition or deportation proceedings can begin.

On 13 December, the Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against fugitive diamantaire Choksi after a request from the CBI, who acquired Antiguan citizenship in 2018. Earlier in 2018, the Interpol had also issued RCN against Nirav Modi, his kin and associates.

The ED had on 24 May and 26 May filed charge sheets against the two.

Both left India in the first week of January, weeks before the scam was reported to the CBI.