The Countrys High Court on Friday gave the ruling in the favour of, Mehul Choksi, the diamantaire who is wanted in connection with Rs 13,000 crore fraud and cannot be removed from Antigua and Barbuda. In his legal complaint, Choksi, the claimant, has contended that the Attorney General of Antigua and the Chief of Police have a responsibility to undertake a comprehensive investigation and that he has a plausible claim that he was exposed to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.Choksi has asked for relief, including a declaration that claims he has a right to a fast and in-depth examination of the events leading up to his forcible deportation from Antigua and Barbuda on or around May 23, 2021.The diamantaire is wanted in India in connection with a Rs 13,000 crore fraud in Punjab National Bank. The court ruling states that Mehul Choksi cannot be taken from the territory of Antigua and Barbuda until the High Court rules, which will only occur during an interparty hearing and after Choksi has exhausted all other legal avenues, including appeals.Defendants on the other hand claimed no legitimate complaint exists that expose a cause of action for any failure to conduct an effective investigation within the scope of jurisdiction under section 7 of the constitution. The defendant further asserted that the claim was baseless and a misuse of the legal system.Choksi has requested an investigation, including a declaration that says he is entitled to a timely and complete investigation into the events surrounding his forcible deportation from Antigua and Barbuda on or about May 23, 2021. Choksi has demanded an investigation into his accusations.The incidents described in Claimant Mehul Choksis affidavits in support of the claim include collusion, forcible abduction, removal from Antigua and Barbuda, assault, and battery. According to the sources, the Claimant was forcibly brought to the Commonwealth of Dominica on a boat and also, the Claimants testimony, when the men approached him, he requested to speak with his attorneys but was turned down.Red Notice removed from ChoksiEarlier, in March, Interpol also removed the red corner notice following the petition by Mehul Choksi. A representative for the diamantaire asserted that Interpols decision to lift the Red Notice had enhanced Choksis claims of kidnapping when he was in Antigua.The decision of Interpol, according to attorney Vijay Aggarwal, followed the efforts of the legal team and a sincere assertion that client Mehul Choksi had been “kidnapped.” The ultimate truth has won out, he continued. RCN issued by Interpol against my client has been withdrawn because the kidnapping attempt of my client has not been established by the international community.The Red Notice is the highest form of an alert issued by the 195-member committee country-strong Interpol to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. The notice was issued against Mehul Choksi in 2018, nearly 10 months after he fled from India in January of that year to take refuge in Antigua and Barbuda, where he took citizenship.Later, Choksi challenged the CBI application seeking the issuance of a Red Corner Notice against him, calling it a political conspiracy. He also raised questions about the safety and security in jails in India. However, CBI stayed mum on the development.
