According to the reports, the Dominican authorities are likely to send Mehul Choksi, back to Antigua, not India. Currently, Choksi is in the custody of Dominica Police
India’s hopes of extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, accused in the PNB scam, have suffered a setback for the moment. The extradition Mehul Choksi has been stayed by the Dominican court, as Choksi’s lawyer has filed a habeas corpus petition and said he was denied legal rights and he was initially not allowed to meet his lawyers. The matter will be heard again today. The court has asked for a hearing at 9 pm local time on May 28.
According to the reports, the Dominican authorities are likely to send Mehul Choksi, back to Antigua, not India. Currently, Choksi is in the custody of Dominica Police and he is being interrogated. Citizens of any country have a legal shield of the Habeas Corpus petition which empowers them to approach the judge in court to protect their interests. However, it has to be proved that the citizen has not done any illegal work.
He (Mehul Choksi) is an Antiguan citizen, not Indian. Heard Antiguan PM say that he instructed Dominican PM to send Mr Choksi to India because should he be returned to Antigua, he would be entitled to constitutional protection: Wayne Marsh, Choksi's lawyer in Dominica, to ANI
— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2021
Mehul Choksi’s lawyer Wayne Marsh in Dominica said it is a derision of justice because Choksi is entitled to legal representation, whether in Antigua or Dominica. At the same time, Choksi’s lawyer Vijay Agarwal in India said that his client (Mehul Choksi) was picked up by several people from Jolly Harbor, where his car was found after his sudden disappearance and was then taken to Dominica.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Choksi’s Dominicai lawyer Wayne Marshe said, “I found that he (Mehul Choksi) was beaten up badly, his eyes were swollen and there were many burns on his body.” He further added, “He told me that he was kidnapped in Jolly Harbor, Antigua and brought to Dominica by people he believed to be Indians. Antigua police believe he was kidnapped and taken to a ship, which was about 60–70 feet long.”
After Choksi was caught in Dominica, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Brownlee said that he had asked Dominica to hand over Mehul Choksi directly to India. However, he said that ultimately, it is the sovereign decision of the Dominica government to which country they send Mehul Choksi back until the court gives its verdict.
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