Culpable In PNB Scam, Wanted In India: CBI Fires Legal Salvo Against Mehul Choksi In Dominica Court

Stating that it had made attempts to arrest Choksi during the course of investigation, the investigation agency informed that his whereabouts were unknown and he was not available in India.

Mehul Choksi (Image Source: PTI)

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday informed the Dominica High Court that fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi was the mastermind behind a series of companies, which conspired with the Punjab National Bank (PNB) officials to unauthorisedly raise credit by abusing bank procedures.

Choksi is fully aware of the proceedings against him in India but has withheld the information from the court in the Carribean island country, the CBI said during a hearing in the Dominica High Court.

Stating that it had made attempts to arrest Choksi during the course of investigation, the investigation agency informed that his whereabouts were unknown and he was not available in India.

The CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) have filed two affidavits in the Dominica High Court which, if admitted, will pave way for noted 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 is a flight risk.

Choksi’s legal battle to prevent his extradition is getting tougher as the Dominican government has declared him a 'prohibited immigrant'.

His lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, however, 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 PNB 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 MEA had earlier 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)