Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi remanded to state prison in Dominica, but to remain in hospital
The development is being seen as a ray of hope for India which has approached the Dominica High Court seeking to be impleaded as a party in the case filed by lawyers of Choksi whose bail plea was earlier rejected.
FollowThe Dominican court on Thursday changed Mehul Choksi’s custody from police custody to prison even as the fugitive’s treatment is underway at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital where his health deteriorated.
"Yes, police custody has been changed to prison custody but he shall remain in hospital as his medical condition has deteriorated," lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said.
His legal team had submitted a medical certificate from doctors at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital, where Choksi is undergoing treatment, of “mental stress” and elevated blood pressure.
The development is being seen as a ray of hope for India which has approached the Dominica High Court seeking to be impleaded as a party in the case filed by lawyers of Choksi whose bail plea was earlier rejected.
Once his health improves Choksi will be sent to state prison in the case related to illegal entry into the Caribbean island nation where he was found after mysteriously disappearing from neighbouring Antigua & Barbuda, where he is currently a citizen.
The court has already rejected his plea for bail highlighting that he is a “flight risk” and has no status or ties in the country. The next hearing in the magistrate’s court is scheduled for June 25 in the illegal entry case.
The CBI and the Ministry of External Affairs have sought to be impleaded in the habeas corpus matter, which seeks return of Choksi to Antigua and Barbuda, by filing two affidavits in the Dominica High Court, officials said here.
The central agency is likely to focus on establishing criminal culpability of Choksi, fugitive status, pending warrants against him, Red Notice and charge sheets while the Ministry of External Affairs will argue that Choksi continues to be an Indian citizen, they said.
The affidavits, if admitted by the high court, will pave the way for noted lawyer Harish Salve pleading India’s case in Dominica, they said.
The fresh development seems to indicate that India stands a chance to be heard and make a legal attempt to bring the fugitive diamantaire back to the country and face a trial.
Choksi is wanted in India in a case of loan fraud worth about Rs 13,500 crore in the state-run Punjab National Bank.
India’s investigation agencies are fighting for Choksi’s deportation to India in a Dominica court. He is under detention in the island nation, where he landed after mysteriously disappearing from neighbouring Antigua on May 23. The economic offender, in a complaint later, alleged that he was kidnapped by several men and siphoned off to Dominica on May 23 on a boat after he went to meet his friend Barbara Jarabica—who he later accused of being part of a ploy to smuggle him out of the country. In Antigua, Choksi, who has an Interpol notice against him, is protected against extradition to India as he holds citizenship.
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