Mehul Choksi produced before magistrate to answer charges of illegal entry into Dominica
Diamantaire Mehul Choksi was produced before a magistrate in Dominica to answer charges of his illegal entry into the Caribbean island nation following a excessive courtroom order on Wednesday, native media reported.
He appeared before the magistrate on a wheel chair in a blue T-shirt and black shorts.
Earlier within the day, Dominica High Court Judge Bernie Stephenson issued the order for his manufacturing before a magistrate after practically three hours of listening to on a habeas corpus petition filed on behalf of the businessman who had claimed that he was kidnapped from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda and forcefully introduced to the Caribbean Island nation.
She adjourned the habeas corpus matter until Thursday, Dominica News Online reported.
Rejecting the submission of Choksi who is needed in India in an alleged Rs 13,500 crore mortgage fraud case in Punjab National Bank and has an Interpol Red Notice in opposition to him,, the prosecution mentioned the habeas corpus petition doesn’t stand as he had illegally entered the nation and was subsequently detained.
His legal professionals, nonetheless, alleged that he was kidnapped from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and introduced to Dominica on a ship, about 100 nautical miles away.
“Our stand that Mr Mehul Choksi is in illegal detention as he was required to be produced within 72 hours before the magistrate and was not so produced has been vindicated. In order to remedy this, he has been asked to be produced before the magistrate. This establishes illegal detention of Mr Mehul Choksi as pleaded by the defence,” Choksi”s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal mentioned.
“The matter being heard is of habeas corpus petition…and not of his repatriation to India. His citizenship is not in question before the court…. Contrary to numerous media reports, there was no discussion regarding Government of India,” Aggarwal mentioned.
The diamantaire, who mysteriously went lacking on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda the place he had been staying since 2018 as a citizen, was detained in neighbouring Dominica for illegal entry after a attainable romantic escapade along with his rumoured girlfriend.
Choksi”s spouse Preeti instructed reporters that the lady in query was not his girlfriend.
She mentioned the lady was recognized to him and used to go on walks with him.
She mentioned Choksi was kidnapped by folks trying like Indian and Antiguan when he had gone to meet the lady.
During Wednesday”s trial, Choksi was current by video-conferencing from Dominica China Friendship Hospital whereas his legal professionals have been current bodily in courtroom.
The decide requested authorities to share courtroom paperwork with Choksi who’s admitted on the Hospital.
His legal professionals mentioned that he doesn’t really feel protected in police custody and that he ought to be despatched again to Antigua and Barbuda, native media reported.
He additionally mentioned he would pay for his safety and raised the problem of harm marks discovered on his physique and him being hospitalised.
In case of an antagonistic order, Choksi has the choice of interesting in greater courts.
Last week, the Government of Dominica had issued a press assertion that it was verifying the standing of Choksi”s citizenship with Antigua and Barbuda.
“Once the information is provided by the Antigua authorities, possible arrangements will be made for Mr. Mehul Choksi to be repatriated to Antigua,” the assertion had mentioned.
A group of multi-agency officers led by a CBI DIG has gone to Dominica to carry Choksi to India if courtroom there clears his deportation to India, officers mentioned.
Choksi”s arrest has created turbulence within the calm political waters of the neighbouring Caribbean Island international locations — Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica –where allegations have been levelled in opposition to opposition events supporting the businessman having an Interpol Red Notice in opposition to him.
Dominican Leader of Opposition Lennox Linton had to problem a denial on the studies of assembly Chetan Choksi, the brother of Mehul Choksi, or receiving any cash from him.
“I do not know Chetan Choksi. I have never seen him. I have never spoken to him. I have never met with him,” Dominica News Online quoted a video message launched by Linton.
Local media outlet Associate Times had alleged that Choksi arrived on a non-public jet on May 29 and met Linton at his residence in Marigot locality the following day for practically two hours the place he gave token cash of USD 2 lakh and promised funding for elections in return for elevating the problem in Parliament.
The outlet alleged that Linton was quiet on the Mehul Choksi affair until assembly his brother Chetan. After the assembly, he began assaults on the federal government over the arrest of the fugitive diamantaire.
Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are needed for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public cash from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) utilizing letters of enterprise.
While Modi is in a London jail after being repeatedly denied bail and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 utilizing the Citizenship by Investment programme before fleeing India within the first week of January 2018. The rip-off got here to gentle subsequently.Â
ALSO READ:Â Mehul Choksi ought to be deported to India, Dominica govt says in courtroom
