I’m soft target...

When asked whether he was still interested in settling the dues with PNB, Choksi said: “My brand value has come to zero… Everything I have has been seized. They can sell off my assets and pay whoever has to be paid. They should take it from ED, I am in no position to return any money.”

Choksi’s nephew Nirav Modi has been traced to the UK, and India has mounted a legal challenge to bring both of them back to face trial.

India has also been trying to extradite liquor baron Vijay Mallya and former cricket administrator Lalit Modi from the UK.

India had sent a team to Antigua last month to formally ask the government there to extradite Choksi under a Commonwealth provision that allows extradition between two member-countries. India also told Antigua that there was no requirement of an Interpol red notice against Choksi since it is used to locate a fugitive, which has already been done in this case.

Choksi challenged the powers of Antigua’s minister of external affairs – quoting Section 9(4)of the Antigua Extradition Act 1993 – to forward the request of any Commonwealth country (such as India) to the extradition court that can even result in provisional arrest. He termed the power as “arbitrary” and said it does not give the person sought to be extradited the right to be heard.

Asked why he had taken Antiguan citizenship, Choksi said he did it to “expand his business”, but added that his “human rights were violated” in India due to actions taken by different investigating agencies.

“Besides the treatment meted out to other accused (in the case against him), like denial of permission to meet lawyer and illegal arrests by CBI, made me lose faith in the Indian legal system,” he said, and alleged that he was undergoing a trial by media.

“My case was being discussed in panel discussions on prime time TV and in one of the shows suggestions were made to set secret agencies after me to hunt me down and kill me. Because of the above human rights violation, nothing was left for me in India and I had to renounce the citizenship (of India), and now I am an Antiguan citizen,” Choksi said.

“Antiguan laws follow English common law principles, wherein human rights are treated at a very high pedestal. I would thus be seeking the same protection as sought by Vijay Mallya (in the UK challenging his extradition to India),” he added.

“Also, the manner in which the events unfolded in the last six months makes it clear that my life would be in danger in India. There have been various reported cases of mob lynching, and in one of the cases an accused was lynched while being inside a jail. There are people who have grievances and anger against me,” he said.

In emails to investigating agencies in March this year, Choksi did not speak about not returning to India -- he claimed that his ill health was not allowing him travel and that the revocation of his passport made it impossible for him to travel to India.

He said on Sunday that he was not living a “life of luxury” in the Caribbean nation.

“I am being hounded by media persons of Antigua and India, as they know that I am in Antigua now. I feel extremely sad that serving my country (India) to the best of the ability and after being a patriot and I am compelled to live such a life -- that too at the fag end, in such old age when I need constant medical attention,” Choksi said.

He denied that he fled India when the CBI was about to file a case against him. “I was already abroad receiving cardiac treatment and was hospitalised when news of the PNB case broke.” up of central and state taxes.

Prices have been increasing since mid-august, rising almost every day due to a drop in rupee and rise in crude oil rates. India is the third biggest importer of oil.

Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje announced a 4% reduction in value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel on Sunday, which was set to reduce prices by Rs 2.5 per litre in the state. “(It) will provide muchneeded relief to the people of the state...,” Raje said after the announcement.

The Congress has also protested the weakening of the rupee that, weighed down by trade concerns and rising crude prices, breached the 72 mark last week. “The value of rupee is below 72 now. Earlier when rupee value used to cross 60, then Prime Minister Modi used to say that rupee is in ICU. What will he say now?” Maken said on Sunday.

The government has blamed international factors for the hike in fuel price and said that one major reason for the rise in petrol and diesel prices is the depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Samajwadi Party (SP), among others, have extended support to the nationwide shutdown called by the Congress.

While the Aam Aadmi Party condemned the rising prices, it said the party would not join the protest called by the Congress. The Shiv Sena, too, has decided to stay away from the agitation.

Responding to the Congress’s request to join the protest, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said: “The opposition should show their unity. The Sena is looking at the bandh neutrally,” he said. The remarks came after the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena announced it was supporting the bandh.

(With inputs from PTI)

alleged the killing was a result of “professional rivalry”, said sources. According to Shaikh, four, including a woman, were involved in the plan, said police.

A resident of Malabar Hill in south Mumbai, Sanghvi lived with his wife and eight-year-old son in Malabar Hill. The CCTV cameras in Mumbai police control room and some spots in Thane and Navi Mumbai haven’t captured Sanghvi’s car, said police, adding they are scanning other routes that Shaikh may have taken. Six teams have been formed to carry out the investigation. of officers in units, career management of non-empanelled officers, provisions related to leaving service, and improving the efficiency and morale of officers.

The ongoing review is examining the possibility of abolishing the rank of brigadier to ensure smoother career progression and also contemplating replacing division headquarters with integrated brigades.

Revamping force levels to improve the army’s tooth-to-tail ratio -- the number of personnel (tail) required to support a combat soldier (tooth) -- has been a work in progress.

In August 2017, the government announced an extensive restructuring of the army to redeploy 57,000 soldiers in combat roles to sharpen the force’s fighting edge.

This was done following the recommendations made by the Shekatkar committee on enhancing the army’s combat potential and trimming its revenue expenditure.

The committee had listed out measures to bring down the budget for meeting day-to-day expenses and making more money available for weapons and equipment.