No Ghar Wapsi for Choksi yet
The Indian authorities are pressing for his extradition but Choksi, by getting entangled in local laws in either Dominica or Antigua, hopes to delay the inevitable. Said Agarwal, Choksi’s lawyer, "There is also an Antiguan High Court order restraining the processing of any request from India for extradition; so my understanding is that he has to be sent back to Antigua only and there is no question of him being sent to India".
"Moreover there should be no speculation till one finds out from Choksi how he landed in Dominica; my understanding is that his reaching Dominica is not voluntar y," Aggarwal said. He also said he found it fishy that nobody seems to be at the moment looking into the fact that how exactly he reached Dominica. "Nonetheless, deportation n has to be done legally and it is not a game of chess. We are dealing with a
human being and nor a pawn that shall be placed here or there and it cannot be on somebody's desires and whims,’’ the lawyer points out.
Sonu Sood, Zeeshan ‘charity ’...
The AG further said that they had taken help from Jubilant Cipla for the supply of these drugs. "We will cross check the claims with the manufacturers," he submitted.
At this, Justice Kulkarni pointed out that as per norms, all manufacturers have to hand over Remdesivir only to the Union government. "Then how could these two get it?" the judge questioned.
During the hearing, on behalf of the Centre, additional solicitor general Anil Singh told the judges that the Union government has already received responses from all the seven companies that manufacture Remdesivir.
"All have denied supplying the vials to Sood Foundation and Zeeshan Siddiqui," he submitted. To this, Justice Kulkarni said, "Sood Charity Foundation has in its response said Cipla is helping them. Now, all these companies deny helping anyone. This means someone isn't speaking the truth. This needs to be probed."
Having heard the contention, Justice Kulkarni said, "Their intentions might be good and bona fide. But that just cannot happen in violation of the norms. This would only defeat the numerous orders passed by this court as well as the top court."
Advocate General Kumbhakoni while seconding the court, said, "We too agree with this. There cannot be a Robinhood approach." The court further said that the state must caution all these celebrities and "in fact extract an undertaking from them that they won't indulge in such activity again," Justice Kulkarni said.