Ministry of External Affairs: Antigua is examining Mehul Choksi extradition request

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Oct 19, 2018

On October 18, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that the authorities of Antigua and Barbuda are currently reviewing India’s extradition request for the fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi.

The Press Trust of India reported that negotiations concerning Mehul Choksi’s potential extradition from Antigua to India to stand trial as the accused for his alleged fraud at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) are ongoing.

At a briefing, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Raveesh Kumar, said: "According to the information that I have, the extradition request by the CBI [Central Bureau of Investigation] and the ED [Enforcement Directorate], is being examined by them [Antigua and Barbuda authorities] and after they have examined it, they have said they will convey their response to India." 

Last month, the Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, met with Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Minister, E P Chet Greene on the side-lines of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. The two spoke about the Choksi case and agreed to take the matter forward. At that time, Greene assured Swaraj that the country’s authorities would fully cooperate with India’s extradition request, according to Kumar’s statement after the meeting.

Choksi had left India last year before news of the scandal broke and took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda through the investment route.

Kumar also mentioned at the briefing that the extradition request for Choksi’s nephew and fellow accused Nirav Modi is currently with UK authorities as that is where he is believed to be currently residing.