In a major shot in the arm for the Modi government, fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s Antiguan citizenship is soon going to be revoked. The Antiguan government has decided to cancel Choksi’s citizenship with Antiguan PM Gaston Browne himself declaring that Choksi’s Antiguan citizenship will be rescinded and assured that he will be repatriated back to India.
#Breaking 1st on TIMES NOW | Fugitive Mehul Choksi’s Antigua passport/citizenship to be revoked. | @Swamy39, BJP MP, gives his view while speaking to @HeenaGambhir. pic.twitter.com/YOWDr3XFdG
— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) June 25, 2019
Declaring the move to abrogate diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s citizenship, Antiguan PM Browne said, “We don’t provide safe haven to criminals involved in financial crimes. His citizenship was processed and he got through it. But there is a way for redressal. His citizenship will be revoked and he will be sent back to India. Browne further added that though Choksi has an option of going to the courts and defend his position but he has exhausted all his legal options and will be deported back to India.
An accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, the extradition process to get the absconding businessman back to India started in March this year. In January 2018, In Choksi fled after the Rs 14,000-crore PNB fraud surfaced, in which diamantaires Nirav Modi and Choksi were the main accused. After fleeing the country, he surrendered his Indian passport and took up Antiguan citizenship.
Tightening the noose around Choksi’s extradition process, the Bombay HC recently directed him to submit his medical reports and asked a team of experts to determine whether he is fit to travel. The ED termed Choksi’s claims as being unfit to travel a facade to delay the legal proceedings. The agency had informed the court that it is willing to provide an air ambulance with medical experts to bring Choksi back to India and provide him with all the necessary medical treatment
