Mehul Choksi can be sent back after end of legal process: Antigua PM

NEW DELHI: In what can spell bad news for fugitive diamond merchant Mehul

Choksi

, his Antiguan citizenship could be revoked followed by extradition to India, the country's prime minister,

Gaston Browne

, was quoted as saying by a local newspaper.


"Choksi's citizenship was processed, he got through. We do have recourse, the reality is that his citizenship will be revoked and he will be deported to India," Browne told Antigua Observer. The PM added Choksi's legal options will need to be exhausted but suggested misuse of the citizenship option will not be permitted.

"The matter is before the court presently (sic), so we have to allow for due process. We have conveyed to the Indian government that criminals also have fundamental rights and Choksi has the right to go to court... But I can assure you, after he has exhausted all his legal options, he will be extradited," Browne said. If the extradition comes through, the return of the diamond merchant, who along with his nephew Nirav Modi is wanted in the Rs 13,400-crore PNB scam case, will be a shot in the arm for the Modi government which has been pursuing the case.

The Indian government is also seeking

Nirav

Modi's return from the UK where he is now in jail. He fled India in January last year.

Government sources here said they were yet to hear officially from Antigua on whether or not Choksi's citizenship was being revoked. "We continue to remain engaged with the Antigua and Barbuda authorities over the issue of Choksi's extradition," said a source, adding that India had urged Antiguan authorities to expedite the legal process involving Choksi.