The Indian fugitive wanted in a bank fraud case, Mehul Choksi was caught by police in Dominica. He had gone missing in Antigua and Barbuda and was arrested by Dominica police force on Wednesday morning from Roseau, Dominican republic.
Mehul Choksi is an economic fraudster and a wanted man in India. He and two other people are suspected in a $ 1.8 billion PNB bank fraud case. The PMLA court had issued non-bailable arrest warrants against him, Nirav Modi and ND Modi.
Choksi had taken citizenship of the Caribbean Island nation of Antigua and Barbuda. He was last seen driving around in the southern area of the island on May 23. Later, Choksi’s vehicle was found, but he was reported missing.
Antigua Police had since been in hot pursuit of the Indian businessman, who had moved abroad in 2018 to escape punishment in his country.
Mehul Choksi along with his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from state-run Punjab National Bank. Nirav Modi is currently in London prison. There, he is contesting his extradition to India.
After news emerged that, Choksi had gone missing; Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne spoke to India today and explained the circumstances of the case.
PM Gaston Browne said that the country Antigua and Barbuda wanted him out of their country as he was a “liability” bringing dishonour to their nation.
Prime Minister Browne said, “We are anxious, we are eager to have him extradited to India. We do not wish to have him here. He brings no value to our country.”
According to the local police in Dominica, Choksi was spotted at Canefield beach in Roseau, disposing off some documents. Following the suspicion, police officials reached out to him and asked for his purpose to visit the country. Choksi refused to address the query. Police added that he was immediately taken into custody. Later, it was revealed upon the police that he was the most wanted fugitive for multi-million fraud in India who left Antigua and Barbuda allegedly fearing extradition on Sunday evening. The police officials added that professional scuba divers have been placed to retrieve the disposed of documents, but so far, no update has been given by them.
Govin, a close aide of Choksi, had earlier revealed that Mehul Choksi might have left for his safehouse in Cuba. The aide had also indicated that Choksi was holding another citizenship of the Caribbean country apart from Antigua and Barbuda. Police officials said that he did not furnish any documents or passport related to his citizenship in any country.
