Took Antigua citizenship last year to expand business: Choksi

PNB scam accused fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi on Friday claimed he had lawfully taken Antigua and Barbuda citizenship last year to expand his business as the passport of the Caribbean nation provides visa-free travel to 132 countries.

In a statement issued by his attorney David Dorsett on the diamantaire’s behalf, Choksi also said there was no truth in the allegations levelled by the Indian Government.   Choksi, who was allegedly the partner-in-crime of his nephew Nirav Modi in the banking fraud, refused to say anything further on the issue, on the advice of his lawyers.

The CBI has written to the Antiguan authorities seeking information on Choksi.

As reported by the Daily Observer from the Caribbean nation, he said: “My application was motivated by my desire to expand my business interest in the Caribbean and to obtain visa-free travel access to 130 or so countries.” He said he was in the United States in January for medical treatment.

Once again refuting charges that he cheated banks, Choksi, in a statement released to the media through his lawyer, said: “I can, however, state that I lawfully applied to be registered as a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda under the Citizenship by Investment Programme. During the course of my application, I did all that was lawfully required of me to do. My application for citizenship was in due course approved.” Antigua is one of the two major Caribbean islands that make up the sovereign nation of Antigua and Barbuda.

“Having received treatment I am still in a state convalescence. That being the case I have decided to reside in Antigua and Barbuda,” it read.

Choksi was granted Antigua citizenship in November. He left India in the first week of January and took an oath of allegiance as a citizen of Antigua on January 15. Days later, on January 29, the CBI filed a case and started investigating Choksi and his nephew, celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi, over a Rs 13,500 crore fraud that involved fake guarantees in the name of India’s second-largest Government bank PNB, to facilitate overseas loans. India has cancelled the passports of both Choksi and Nirav Modi over the PNB scam.

After it emerged that Choksi had moved to the Caribbean country in July and also taken a local passport, the CBI wrote to Antiguan authorities seeking the whereabouts of the fugitive diamantaire.

The CBI, in its communication sent to Antiguan authority, has cited diffusion notice issued by the Interpol against the fugitive businessman and sought details of his movement and his present location.