India Pushes For Choksi’s Extradition From Antigua
February 10, 19
(IDEX Online) – India is seeking the extradition of Indian diamantaire and jeweler Mehul Choksi from Antigua.
Choksi is a main defendant in one of India’s largest bank fraud cases who fled India before the accusations surfaced last year and since acquired an Antigua and Barbuda passport.
Choksi, however, an Indian official told Reuters, is still an Indian citizen and therefore the Indian government is pushing for his extradition.
Choksi is one of the key actors accused of defrauding Punjab National Bank of $2 billion. The Reuters report said that “bringing Choksi back to India would be a boon for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he tries to bolster his anti-corruption credentials ahead of a general election due by May.”
Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi, a renowned diamond trader and retail jeweler are both accused of colluding with a number of bankers to getting credit from overseas banks by means of duplicitous guarantees. Both Choksi and Modi have fled the country and acquired additional passports.
The Indian government is also in pursuit of Jatin Mehta, the owner of Winsome Diamonds and Jewellery Ltd., with accusations of alleged fraud at his firm.
India has filed a requested for extradition with St. Kitts and Nevis, where Mehta is said to be residing, according to the report.