Fugitive diamantaire Choksi reaches Antigua, to undergo medical treatment

DN Bureau

Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has landed in Antigua and is now expected to be shifted to Jolly Harbour his home. According to a local Antiguan newspaper, Choksi arrived on a private airplane and was met by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the airport.

Mehul Choksi
Mehul Choksi


Saint John’s: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has landed in Antigua and is now expected to be shifted to Jolly Harbour his home. According to a local Antiguan newspaper, Choksi arrived on a private airplane and was met by representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the airport.

The 62-year-old will now be receiving medical treatment locally and will report to the Dominican authorities on his hearth condition and every time he leaves his residence.

On July 12, Dominica High Court had granted bail to Choksi, allowing him to go back to Antigua and Barbuda for treatment of his neurological condition.

The court had also adjourned Choksi’s judicial review application and the criminal proceedings against the fugitive diamantaire for unlawful entry.

Also Read | Conducted numerous searches to no avail, says Antiguan Police on missing fugitive Mehul Choksi

Furthermore, the court granted bail to Choksi to travel back to Antigua and Barbuda and noted that bail was being give strictly for him to undergo medical treatment in Antigua.

The Dominica HC also asked him to deposit 10,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars (EC) as security.

Previously, the Dominica High Court had denied bail claiming that he had no ties to Dominica and the court has no rights to impose any conditions which will assure it that he wouldn’t abscond.

The High Court had also pointed out that Choksi had proposed that he will stay in the hotel with his brother, however, that is not a fixed address. The HC also noted that his trial has not started yet.

Also Read | India asks Antigua to detain Choksi, restrict his movement

The court also highlighted that Choksi did not offer any strong surety before them while he sought bail and that Choksi’s a flight risk too. On May 23, he had gone missing from Antigua after going out for dinner. But he was soon caught in Dominica later on.

The 62-year-old fugitive is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,500-crore fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB).(ANI)










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