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.
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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)