Diamantaire Mehul Choksi was produced earlier than a Justice of the Peace in Dominica on Wednesday to reply fees of his unlawful entry into the Caribbean island nation following a excessive courtroom order, native media reported.
He appeared earlier than the Justice of the Peace in a blue T-shirt and black shorts on a wheel chair.
Earlier within the day, Dominica High Court Judge Bernie Stephenson issued an order to provide him earlier than a Justice of the Peace after almost three hours of listening to on a habeas corpus petition filed by the businessman, who claimed he had been arrested in neighboring Antigua and was kidnapped from Barbuda. Forced to be dropped at the Caribbean island nation.
Dominica News Online reported that it adjourned the habeas corpus case till Thursday.
Rejecting the plea of Choksi, needed in India within the alleged Rs 13,500-crore mortgage fraud case in Punjab National Bank, the prosecution stated the habeas corpus petition was not appropriate as he had entered the nation illegally. and was later taken into custody.
However, his legal professionals alleged that he was kidnapped from Antigua’s Jolly Harbor and dropped at Dominica on a ship about 100 nautical miles away.
“Our stand that Mr. Mehul Choksi is in illegal custody as he was to be produced before the magistrate within 72 hours and this was not done has been proved correct. He has been asked to produce him before a magistrate to resolve this. This establishes illegal custody of Mr. Mehul Choksi, as stated by the defense,” stated Choksi’s counsel Vijay Aggarwal.
“The matter is of habeas corpus petition… and not of his repatriation to India. His citizenship is not in question before the court… Contrary to several media reports, there was no discussion about the Indian government,” Agarwal stated.
The diamond service provider, who went lacking on May 23 mysteriously from Antigua and Barbuda, the place he had been dwelling as a citizen since 2018, has been booked for unlawful entry into neighboring Dominica after a potential romantic getaway together with his rumored girlfriend. was taken into custody.
Choksi’s spouse Preeti informed reporters that the lady being questioned was not his girlfriend.
He stated that the lady knew him and used to exit with him.
He stated that Choksi was kidnapped by individuals who regarded like Indians and Antiguans when he went to satisfy the lady.
During Wednesday’s listening to, Choksi was current from Dominica China Friendship Hospital by way of video-conferencing whereas his lawyer was current within the courtroom.
The decide requested the officers to share the courtroom paperwork with the hospitalized Choksi.
His legal professionals stated he didn’t really feel protected in police custody and ought to be deported again to Antigua and Barbuda, native media reported.
He additionally stated that he would pay for his security and raised the problem of damage marks discovered on his physique and his hospitalization.
In case of an hostile order, Choksi has the choice of interesting to the High Courts.
Last week, the Dominica authorities issued a press assertion that it was verifying Choksi’s citizenship standing with Antigua and Barbuda.
“After information is provided by the Antigua authorities, possible arrangements will be made for Mr. Mehul Choksi to be sent back to Antigua,” the assertion stated.
Officials stated a crew of multi-agency officers led by a CBI DIG has gone to Dominica to deliver Choksi to India if the courtroom there permits deportation to India.
Choksi’s arrest has sparked unrest within the calm political waters of neighboring Caribbean island nations – Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica – the place opposition events have been accused of supporting a businessman holding an Interpol purple discover in opposition to him.
Dominican opposition chief Lennox Linton needed to refute experiences that he had met or acquired any cash from Chetan Choksi, brother of Mehul Choksi.
“I do not know Chetan Choksi. I’ve never seen him. I never talked to him. I have never met him,” Dominica News Online quoted a video message launched by Linton as saying.
Local media outlet Associate Times alleged that Choksi arrived in a non-public jet on 29 May and met Linton the following day at his dwelling in Marigot space for almost two hours, the place he gave USD 2 lakh in token cash and in return for elections. promised to provide cash for Raising the problem in Parliament.
The outlet alleged that Linton was silent on Mehul Choksi’s case until he met his brother Chetan. After the assembly, he began attacking the federal government for the arrest of the fugitive diamond service provider.
Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are needed in reference to the alleged misappropriation of public cash price Rs 13,500 crore from state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB).
While Modi is in a London jail after being repeatedly denied bail and protesting his extradition to India, Choksi used the Citizenship by Investment Program earlier than fleeing India within the first week of January 2017 He took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda. The rip-off had come. Light later.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
