The Antigua and Barbuda government said that it would fully cooperate regarding the arrest of fugitive diamantaire and Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Mehul Choksi, but added that it would not succumb to pressure from the Indian government in the matter. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that authorities would arrest Choksi only in conformity with the laws and regulations of the country.
“This idea that they can force us to take any decision and go against the laws and constitution of our country and one in which they are trying to force the executive to meddle in the domain of the judiciary that is something that will not be tolerated,” Browne asserted that the Antigua and Barbuda government has already “signaled its full cooperation” in the matter and that “the authorities remain fully committed to assisting wherever possible.”
He continued, “(This issue) is a matter for courts and I believe the Honourable Attorney General made it abundantly clear that the matter is now in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecution. We are a country of laws and we have to respect the constitutional rights of our citizens.”
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had written a letter to the Antigua and Barbuda government, through the Ministry of External Affairs, asking them to arrest Choksi. Antiguan authorities had assured cooperation with India for the extradition on August 9. India has been trying hard to bring back Choksi from Antigua and Barbuda under the provision of a law of the island nation that provides for extradition of a fugitive to a designated Commonwealth country.
Meanwhile, the Interpol has raised queries on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) request to get a Red Notice (RN) issued against him. It had similarly asked CBI to respond to Choksi's claims of poor jail conditions in India and anomalies in the agency's case against him. Sources said the Interpol has raised objections to the case against Choksi being mixed up with that of Nirav Modi. It has sought clarifications on the money laundering case against Choksi, who along with his nephew Nirav Modi, is a key accused in a £1.35 billion PNB loan fraud case.
