In a setback to Indian agencies seeking repatriation of Mehul Choksi, the Dominican Government on Saturday dropped charges of illegal entry against the fugitive diamantaire. Reports said the prosecution of Dominica decided to withdraw/discontinue the legal proceedings in the illegal entry case against Choksi.
"Choksi is pleased that the Dominican Government has today dropped all charges against him for unlawful entry in May 2021. By doing so they now recognise that there was never any case against him. Choksi was forcibly removed from Antigua against his will by agents of the Indian State, viciously assaulted, and taken to Dominica by boat, where he was again unlawfully handed over to authorities for an offence he never committed. Choksi's legal team continue to pursue all avenues for justice to redress the human rights violations committed against him. Choksi hopes that those responsible for his kidnapping from Antigua on 23 May, 2021 will be brought to justice," according to a statement by Choksi's spokesperson.
On May 17, Director of Public Prosecutions (AG) in a reply filed before the Magistrate Court informed that 'Mehul Chinubhai Choksi' was charged, for that he, on the 24th day of May 2021 at Toucarie Bay, Toucarie in the Parish of St John, in the Commonwealth of Dominica, did enter illegally into the Commonwealth of Dominica at a place not approved as a point of entry."
The Director of Prosecutions further stated before the court that "in accordance with the provisions of Section 72(2) (c) of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica, I do hereby discontinue the above-mentioned proceedings against the said, Mehul Chinubhai Choksi." The move comes as a setback for Indian agencies that were seeking his repatriation to face trial in the PNB loan fraud case.
Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi who had gone missing from Antigua on 23 May, 2021, was soon caught in Dominica. He was charged with illegal entry by the police in Dominica.
The 62-year-old fugitive diamond businessman is wanted in India in connection with the Rs 13,500-crore loan fraud in the Punjab National Bank (PNB). Choksi had taken citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 and fled India in the first week of January 2018 after the PNB scam came to light.