Fugitive Indian Businessman Mehul Choski Missing in Antigua, Manhunt On: Lawyer

New Delhi:

62-year-old fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choski, who is wanted by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate for his involvement in the ₹ 14,000 crore PNB loan fraud and money-laundering case, has gone missing from Antigua and Barbuda. In 2018, he reportedly fled to these Caribbean island state to escape Indian law enforcement. 

On Tuesday morning, Mr Choksi's lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, acknowledged to NDTV that his client is missing and that his family is searching for him. Antiguan police had also initiated a manhunt, he added.

Police Commissioner Atlee Rodney was quoted by Antigua Newsroom as saying that his police were "following up on the whereabouts of Indian businessman Mehul Choksi."

According to NDTV, the CBI has not been officially alerted that Mr Choksi is missing. According to the sources, the CBI has written to the Antiguan embassy in India for confirmation and more information.

According to agency sources, a Red Notice issued by Interpol in 2018 on Mr Choksi meant they would be notified if he entered any immigration point anywhere in the world.

Meanwhile, according to intelligence sources citing local media in Antigua, Mr Choksi may have relocated to Cuba. "We have got such reports (and) we are ascertaining it" a top official told NDTV.

Cuba, like Antigua, has no extradition treaty with India.

Mr Choksi left his home Monday evening for dinner at a restaurant in the southern portion of the island, according to news agency ANI. Since then, he has not been seen. His vehicle was eventually discovered, but there was no sign of him, according to local news outlets.

Mehul Choksi is fighting extradition to India in a long-running legal struggle.

He is currently a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. Last year, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated that citizenship will be withdrawn after he had exhausted all legal alternatives.

Mr Browne made it very clear that his country, like many other Caribbean 'tax havens,' will not provide "safe haven for criminals, for those involved in financial crimes."

"Choksi's citizenship was processed, he got through. We do have recourse, the reality is his citizenship will be revoked and he will be deported to India," the Antigua Observer reported Mr Browne as saying.

Mr Choksi's lawyer responded in March to media claims that his citizenship had been cancelled by an Antiguan civil court. Mehul Choksi, according to Mr Aggarwal, is still an Antiguan citizen.

Mr Choksi previously claimed his innocence and stated that the claims against him are unfounded, unjustified, and motivated by political expediency in an interview with ANI.

Mr Choksi's nephew, Nirav Modi, a rich jeweller, is also wanted in connection with the PNB scandal. Mr Modi, like his uncle, left India in 2018 and is currently residing in the United Kingdom.

The British authorities approved Nirav Modi's extradition to India last month. Mr Modi, on the other hand, can still appeal the extradition order to the UK High Court.

As witnessed in the example of liquor tycoon Vijay Mallya, who moved to court to challenge his extradition order signed in February 2019, the procedure might take months or even years.

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