The CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have sought to implead in the habeas corpus petition filed by fugitive Mehul Choksi’s lawyers by filing two affidavits in the Dominica High Court. Choksi is an accused in the multi-crore PNB Scam.
According to officials, the CBI will focus on establishing criminal culpability of Choksi, his fugitive status, the pending warrants, Interpol Red Notice and the charge sheets against him. The External Affairs Ministry will argue that Choksi continues to be an Indian citizen.
The affidavits, if admitted, will pave the way for noted lawyer Harish Salve to plead India’s case in Dominica, they said.
The Dominica High Court has denied bail to fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi in the case of illegal entry into the island country after his mysterious disappearance from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda where he is staying as a citizen since 2018, local Caribbean media reported.
The high court on Friday (local time) gave the ruling by concluding that Choksi was a “flight risk”, did not have any ties with Dominica and the court could not impose any conditions which will stop him from leaving the country, news outlet AntiguaNewsroom said. Choksi had approached the high court after the magistrate had rejected his bail petition.
Choksi’s lawyers had filed a habeas corpus petition calling his arrest illegal and alleging that he was
abducted, tortured and handed over to Dominica authority to deny him rights available to him in Antigua and Barbuda as a citizen. CBI and External Affairs Ministry is going to implead in this petition by claiming India’s demands to hand over the fugitive.
The 62-year-old diamantaire, who has an Interpol Red Notice against him, had mysteriously gone missing on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda where he has been staying since 2018 as a citizen after fleeing from India.
He was detained in the neighbouring island country of Dominica for illegal entry after a possible romantic escapade with his rumoured girlfriend.