Fugitive Indian Billionaire Mehul Choski Arrested in Dominica

According to local media sources, fugitive Indian billionaire Mehul Choksi, who went missing from Antigua on May 23, has been arrested in Dominica. 

Mehul Choksi is currently in the custody of Dominica's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), according to the Antigua News Room.

Choksi, who has become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda in the Caribbean, was last seen driving throughout the island's southern region on May 23. His vehicle was later discovered, but he was declared missing.

Since then, Antigua Police have been on the hunt for the Indian businessman, who fled his home country in 2018 to avoid punishment. 

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 states to escape Indian law enforcement. 

 Last year, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated that citizenship will be withdrawn after he had exhausted all legal alternatives.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 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. Nirav Modi is now imprisoned in London, where he is fighting extradition to India. 

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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