New Delhi: The Dominica High Court denied bail to Mehul Choksi fugitive jeweller wanted in India on Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud charges on the grounds that he is a flight risk.
Choksi mysteriously went missing on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda where he has been staying since 2018 as a citizen, he alleged that he was abducted from Antigua by the Indian and Antiguan police officers along with his woman friend, Barbara Jarabica.
Dominica High Court also pointed out how Choksi proposed that he will stay with his brother in the hotel, but that is not a fixed address. The court also noted that his trial has not started yet.
Judge Wynante Adrien-Roberts of Dominica High Court decided not to grant bail to Mehul Choksi after conclusion of the submissions made by both the sides.
The court also highlighted that Mehul Choksi didn't offer any strong surety before the court while he sought bail and he's a flight risk too, Antigua Newsroom reported.
Currently, Choksi has got interim relief from immediate repatriation to India by the Dominican court. While arguing, Choksi's Counsel cited medical grounds for bail and dismissed flight risk.
In his letter to Antigua Police, Mehul Choksi claimed being abducted from the home of Barbara Jarabica and taken to Dominica on a boat. Barbara Jarabica then came out openly talked about this entire alleged abduction claims and divulged information about his plan of visiting Cuba.
Later, the Dominican government has declared him as a 'prohibited immigrant'. In fact, the Dominican National Security and Home Affairs ministry has directed the police to take necessary action to remove Choksi from Dominica as per the procedure. On the other hand, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal has claimed last week that Choksi did not enter Dominica illegally and the police cannot arrest him as he is not a "prohibited immigrant".
Choksi along with his nephew Nirav Modi is accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. India had already presented its case to enable extradition and present evidence of Choksi's financial fraud to Dominica and urged the country to clear his deportation.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said all efforts will continue to be made to bring back 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 an online media briefing.
(With Agency Inputs)