Will Antigua Hand Over Wanted Indian Diamantaire Choksi?

By NAN Business Editor

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Sept. 6, 2018:  The Indian government is not backing down from efforts to extradite and apprehend the masterminds of the $2 billion Punjab National Bank, (PNB), scam, diamantaires Mehul Choksi and Nirav Modi.

With Choksi still in Antigua, the pressure is on the government there to decide on his extradition. On August 30th, Indian High Commissioner, Venkatachalam Mahalingam, met Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne to press the case again for extradition on the heels of a formal request weeks prior.

Now reports indicate Antigua Attorney General, Steadroy Benjamin, is set to discuss the possible extradition of Choksi with the country’s Director of Public Prosecutions, (DPP).

Choksi became a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda in November 2017 under the country’s Citizenship by Investment Program, (CIP). He reportedly took the oath of allegiance on January 15th, according to local newspaper Antigua Observer but only arrived there after fleeing India and the US, in July.

Since then the pressure and the international spotlight has been on Antigua to deliver Choksi back to Indian authorities to answer for his alleged crimes. The question now, is will they hand him over and save the country and the CIP program the embarrassment or will they shield their new citizen from the Indian law? The answer is left to be seen.