Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi’s legal reparation request was put to hold by a Dominican court after his legal team filed a habeas corpus petition.
His lawyer alleged that Choksi was denied legal rights at the island and was not even allowed to meet his legal team initially, Hindustan Times reported.
Dominican authorities have clarified that the PNB bank fraud-accused businessman would be extradited to Antigua and not India.
Also Read | Deporting Choksi to India directly may not be easy
Choksi, 63, is involved in the Rs 12,000 crore PNB scam and is wanted in India for charges of fraud.
Choksi’s lawyer in India had alleged that Choksi had been picked up by various people from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and then was taken to Dominica. Choksi’s car was found at the Jolly Harbour after his sudden appearance.
Meanwhile, Choksi’s lawyer in Dominica alleged that the Indian businessman was severely beaten and had several burnt marks on his body. According to him, the people who abducted Choksi belonged to Indian and Antiguan police.
Also Read | Mehul Choksi was forced to get into vessel from Antigua and taken to Dominica: Lawyer
"I noticed that he was severely beaten, his eyes were swollen and had several burnt marks on his body. He reported to me that he was abducted at Jolly Harbour in Antigua and brought to Dominica by persons whom he believed to be Indian and Antiguan police on a vessel he described to be about 60-70 feet in length," Choksi's lawyer in Dominica Wayne Marshe told ANI.
After Choksi’s arrest, the Antiguan Prime Minister issued a statement asking the Dominican authorities to extradite the fugitive businessman to India directly. However, the legality of extradition between Dominica and India were questioned since both countries have not signed extradition arrangements and treaties.
Dominica is not among the 58 countries with which India has either extradition treaties or arrangements, while it has the same with Antigua and Barbuda. In such cases, the decision of where a fugitive will be repatriated depends on local authorities.
