Choksi extradition case may also end up in a UK court

NEWDELHI: India’s request to Antigua and Barbuda for the extradition of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi may finally be decided in the United Kingdom, where India is already fighting a case for the extradition of Vijay Mallya. The UK’S extradition laws are stringent and its extradition process lengthy, with a special emphasis on the possible treatment of persons sought to be extradited in the country seeking their extradition.

Choksi has moved the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court in Antigua and Barbuda to stall his extradition to India by challenging the extradition law of his adopted country.

“The hearing of the petition is likely to take place within the next two months and the appellate court for moving against any order the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is the Judicial of The Privy Council (JCPC) in the UK,” said a person associated with Choksi’s legal team who asked not to be identified. JCPC is the court for final appeal for the UK overseas territories, crown dependencies and Commonwealth countries which have retained the option of appealing there.

“If Choksi gets relief or his petition is denied, both ways, an appeal is likely to filed in the JCPC by the aggrieved party which will take a final call on the issue,” added the person quoted above.

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