Mehul Choksi to remain in Dominica, next hearing on June 2: Court

NEW DELHI: The High Court of Dominica on Friday once again "restrained" the extradition of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.

Justice M.E. Birnie Stephenson, in her order, extended the injunction on removing Choksi from Dominica "until further or other hearing of this application is continued until the further hearing of this matter". The next hearing of the case is scheduled for June 2. The court's decision came while it was hearing a habeas corpus plea filed by Choksi's lawyers.

The Dominican court further stated that Choksi "must be taken transported to the Dominica China Friendship Hospital for medical attention and the administration of a COVID-19 test". It asked the respondents (the Attorney General and the Chief of Police) to file their affidavits by 10.30 on Tuesday, and the applicant (Choksi) to file an affidavit in reply, if necessary, on or before 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Choksi, who is wanted in India by the CBI and the ED for the Rs 13,500 crore PNB loan fraud case, went missing from Antigua and Barbuda on Sunday, sparking a massive manhunt. He was captured in Dominica on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Choksi's lawyer in India, Vijay Agarwal, told IANS, "Upon the filing of the habeas corpus petition titled 'Mehul Choksi vs Attorney General of Commonwealth of Dominica and Chief of Police', a Dominica court has ordered a restraint on removing Choksi from the land of Dominica until further order." (IANS)

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