INDIA IN TOUCH WITH DOMINICA TO BRING BACK CHOKSI: OFFICIALS

India is in touch with the governments of Dominica, and Antigua & Barbuda to bring back fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi from the Caribbean region, officials aware of the developments said on Thursday.

Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne has asked Dominica to declare fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi as persona non grata and directly repatriate him to India, Antiguan media reported. Choksi was apprehended on Caribbean Dominica island after going missing from Antigua & Barbuda, the country of his citizenship about 101 nautical miles away, on Sunday.

Browne was quoted as telling local media that he has told Dominica that his country will not accept Choksi, who sought refuge in Antigua and Barbuda after allegedly cheating Punjab National Bank of ₹13,578 crore.

Choksi is currently under the custody of Dominica’s Criminal Investigation Department.

His lawyer, advocate Vijay Aggarwal, said that as per sections 17 and 23 of the Immigration and Passport Act, Choksi can only be deported to Antigua and not India. NEW DELHI: