India will continue to make all efforts to bring back Mehul Choksi: MEA

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Thursday said that the government is committed to bring all fugitives back to the country and will continue to make all efforts till Mehul Choksi is deported.
In an official statement, an MEA spokesperson told news agency ANI: "India remains steadfast in its efforts that fugitives are brought back to India. He is currently in the custody of Dominica with some legal proceedings underway."
"We will continue to ensure he is brought to back India," he added.
Mehul Choksi is currently being presented at the Roseau Magistrate court to answer charges of illegal entery into Dominica.

Meanwhile, a Dominica magistrate on Wednesday denied bail to Choksi and ordered him to be presented to face charges of illegal entry into the country.
According to local media reports, Antigua and Barbuda prefers Choksi to be repatriated from Dominica to India directly, as decided by the Cabinet of the Caribbean island country in a meeting.
The Cabinet minutes published by the media outlet show that "Choksi matter" was one of the agenda items discussed during the meeting on Wednesday where it was held that Choksi is now a "problem" of Dominica and if he comes back to Antigua and Barbuda the "problem reverts" to it.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Gaston Browne and attended by all his ministers physically and virtually decided that law enforcement officials will continue to gather intelligence in the circumstances of Choksi's "departure" from Antigua, media outlet Antigua Breaking News said.
"The preference of the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda is for Choksi to be repatriated to India from Dominica," the Cabinet minutes said.
The fugitive diamond tycoon was arrested on May 23 for alleged illegal entry to the Caribbean island country.
He was charged with illegal entry by the police in Dominica after he allegedly escaped from Antigua and Barbuda in a possible attempt to evade extradition to India.

Choksi pleaded before the magistrate that he was abducted and forcibly brought to Dominica from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda, about 100 nautical miles away, Dominica News Online reported.
The India-born fugitive is currently at the China Friendship Hospital. He came to the court in a wheelchair.
Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. Mehul fled the country was granted citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018. He is involved in a legal battle to prevent his extradition to India.
(With inputs from agencies)