New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday that the request by our country for extradition of fugitive diamond dealer Mehul Choksi is under examination by Antigua and Barbuda.

During a response to a question over Choksi extradition issue, MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar at a briefing said, “According to the information that I have, the extradition request by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and the ED (Enforcement Directorate), is being examined by them (Antigua and Barbuda authorities) and after they have examined it, they have said they will convey their response to India.”

Last month, the issue of Choksi’s extradition was raised by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her meet with Barbuda EP Chet Greene on the sidelines of the 73^rd session of the United General Assembly. Choksi is as of now living in the Caribbean island.

Punjab National Bank

Vijay Mallya

 

Ms Swaraj was given assurances by Mr. Greene that their government will cooperate with India over the extradition issue of Choksi to India, Mr. Kumar had said after the meeting between them. The assurances were the same as given by the Prime Minister of Barbuda.

Mehul Choksi was alleged to have been involved in the USD 2 billion scam done at the state-run Punjab National Bank and is uncle of fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi. Presently, the CBI and ED are probing the fraud and both of them are wanted by the national agencies.

While responding to a question over the issue of absconding Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi, Mr. Kumar said that the extradition requests made by CBI and ED regarding Nirav Modi are pending with the UK authorities.

“The requests are under consideration,” he said.

“We are committed to take this matter forward and to bring back the economic offenders,” he said.

While talking about Mallya, he said that the Court at Westminster Magistrates has fixed the date for the verdict in the case as December 10.

Responding to another question in relation to the dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s mysterious disappearance, Mr. Kumar said, “I think I have seen media reports that this matter is still under investigation and so at this stage I have no comments.”

Both Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi fled India just some days before the Punjab National Bank was exposed which involved crores of rupees being taken away by the two fugitives. Mehul Choksi had spoken about the issue for the first time a month ago through a video which went viral. He rejected all those allegations against him.

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