The Interpol’s office in Antigua and Barbuda has informed India’s Enforcement Directorate that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi is in the Caribbean country and has got a local passport, the Hindustan Times reported on Tuesday, citing unidentified government officials.
“Investigation agencies have been informed by Interpol in response to a diffusion notice against Choksi that he reached Antigua on July 8 from the United States and also holds an Antiguan passport,” an official told the newspaper. “Sister agencies have been provided with the information to take further action.”
Choksi’s lawyer Sanjay Abbot denied having knowledge about the matter. A request by Indian agencies for a red corner notice against Choksi is pending with Interpol.
“We can start extradition proceedings without a red corner notice as well. We have a confirmation from Antigua that he is there,” an unidentified officer of the Central Bureau of Investigation told The Indian Express. “We will get in touch with our mission there and get more details on his location. Then, in consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs, the next course of action will be decided.”
Choksi fled India in January, weeks before the country’s biggest banking fraud came to light. He and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused of defrauding the Punjab National Bank of over Rs 13,000 crore.
In March, a special court issued non-bailable warrants against Choksi after the Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet against him. Earlier this month, the agency moved the court seeking to confiscate the attached assets of Choksi and Modi, and declare the two as fugitives under a new ordinance.
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