Mehul Choksi extradition: Government says Antigua and Barbuda examining legal aspects of the case

New Delhi: The ministry of external affairs has said that the Antigua and Barbuda government is examining the legal clauses about extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi. 

Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are being sought by multiple investigating agencies after it was revealed that the two took crores in loans from banks abroad.

Answering a question on Choksi, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: "The extradition request by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate is being examined by them (Antigua and Barbuda authorities) and after they have examined it, they will get back to us.”

Last month, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj had met Antigua and Barbuda counterpart E P Chet Greene last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and raised the issue of extradition of Choksi, who is currently in the Caribbean island. 
Greene had said that his government will fully cooperate in the matter of extradition of Choksi to India, Kumar had said after the meeting. 

On Thursday, assets worth over Rs 218 crore were attached by the Enforcement Directorate in the Rs. 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, officials said. Sources said the assets attached belong to Choksi, Mihir Bhansali, who is a close aide of Nirav Modi, and a company named AP Gems and Jewellery Park.

In September, Choksi had released a video saying that all allegations against him were false and baseless. "The Enforcement Directorate has attached my properties illegally without any basis," Mehul Choksi said from Antigua.

Earlier this month, the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had admitted an insolvency petition filed by ICICI Bank Ltd. against Choksi-promoted Gitanjali Gems Ltd. The bank through its counsel had said Gitanjali Gems has defaulted on dues of about Rs 608 crore.

(With agency inputs)
 

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