New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday knowledgeable the Dominica High Court that fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi was the mastermind behind a collection of firms, which conspired with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) officers to unauthorisedly elevate credit score by abusing financial institution procedures.
Choksi is absolutely conscious of the proceedings towards him in India however has withheld the data from the court docket within the Carribean island nation, the CBI mentioned throughout a listening to within the Dominica High Court.
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Stating that it had made makes an attempt to arrest Choksi through the course of investigation, the investigation company knowledgeable that his whereabouts have been unknown and he was not obtainable in India.
The CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have filed two affidavits within the Dominica High Court which, if admitted, will pave manner for famous lawyer Harish Salve to plead India’s case in Dominica.
Earlier on Friday, the Dominica High Court denied bail to Choksi on the grounds that he’s a flight danger.
Choksi’s authorized battle to stop his extradition is getting more durable because the Dominican authorities has declared him a ‘prohibited immigrant’.
His lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, nonetheless, claimed final week that Choksi didn’t enter Dominica illegally and the police can’t arrest him as he’s not a “prohibited immigrant”.
Choksi alongside together with his nephew Nirav Modi is accused within the Rs 13,500 crore PNB fraud case. India had already offered its case to allow extradition and current proof of Choksi’s monetary fraud to Dominica and urged the nation to clear his deportation.
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The MEA had earlier on Thursday mentioned all efforts will proceed to be made to convey again fugitives to face justice in India.
“As regards Mehul Choksi, I don’t have any particular update this week. He remains in the custody of Dominican authorities and certain legal proceedings are underway,” PTI quoted MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi as saying at a web-based media briefing.
(With company inputs)
