Mehul Choksi got Antigua citizenship in Nov 2017, ABP News accesses his passport copy

Mehul Choksi had fled India on an Indian passport in the first week of January, nearly a fortnight before the biggest banking scam was detected. He had taken an oath of allegiance in Antigua on January 15, 2018, thus completing his citizenship, which was granted to him in November 2017.

NEW DELHI: ABP News has accessed a copy of the passport of fugitive billionaire Mehul Choksi, issued by the government of Antigua and Barbuda, confirming the claim of the PNB scam accused that he is now a citizen of the Caribbean nation. The document numbered AB007713 was issued on November 16, 2017 and is valid till November 15, 2022. Choksi, who is wanted in India in connection with the Rs. 13,000 crore PNB fraud case, had taken the citizenship of Antigua in November last year. The diamantaire had fled India on an Indian passport in the first week of January, nearly a fortnight before the biggest banking scam was detected. The Antiguan government has cleared his application for citizenship in November 2017. He had taken an oath of allegiance in Antigua on January 15, 2018, thus completing his citizenship. Meanwhile, the CBI on Monday told the Ministry of External Affairs that India can seek extradition of  Mehul Choksi without an Interpol Red Corner Notice. The agency said the purpose of a Red Corner Notice (RCN) is to locate an absconding accused whereas Choksi's location has been revealed. Watch full report below The Gitanjali group owner has also appealed to the Interpol to not issue an RCN against him alleging that the charges against him are politically motivated and the condition of the Indian jails are very poor. He said he is afraid that the angry mob in India will lynch him. Choksi, the uncle of his alleged partner in crime Nirav Modi, also said the charges against him have been hyped by the media and he might not get a fair trial in India as courts may be influenced by news reports The Interpol, after receiving Choksi's plea, sought the CBI's reply. The CBI in its reply has denied all allegations levelled by Choksi. Earlier this month, the CBI, which is probing the Rs 13,500-crore banking fraud allegedly committed by the diamond jeweller and his nephew Nirav Modi, has communicated to the MEA that it has already written to its counterpart agency in Antigua for the provisional arrest of Choksi. In its request to the Home Ministry, the CBI said Choksi's extradition was being sought "on grounds of principle of reciprocity and dual criminality". (With inputs from agencies)