Dominica court rejects Mehul Choksi’s bail application
The troubles of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, who scammed more than 14 thousand crores of money, have also increased in distant Dominica of India. Dominica court has rejected Mehul Choksi’s bail application after a long hearing. The court has not given any concession to Choksi. During his appearance before the magistrate, Choksi vehemently denied the allegations of illegal infiltration in Domenica. Now the next hearing in this case will be on June 14. Indian investigative agencies are trying hard to bring Mehul Choksi back to India. Will Mehul Choksi be sent back to India or not? The answer to this question can be found till 6.30 pm on June 3. Mehul Choksi will appear in Dominica Court for further proceedings. In this hearing, the Indian investigative agencies will claim to send Mehul back to India. A team of 8 members from India has left for Dominica. Diamond trader Mehul Choksi was on Wednesday produced in a magistrate’s court to answer charges of illegal entry into the country following a Dominica High Court order. Choksi appeared before the magistrate on a wheel chair. He was wearing a blue T-shirt. Earlier, Dominica High Court Judge Bernie Stephenson had ordered Choksi’s habeas corpus to be produced before a magistrate’s court after hearing him for nearly three hours. Choksi had claimed that he was abducted from Antigua and Barbuda and forcibly brought to the Caribbean island nation. According to Dominica News Online, the High Court adjourned the hearing on the habeas corpus petition till Thursday. Rejecting Choksi’s arguments, the prosecution in the High Court said that the habeas corpus petition was not maintainable as the accused entered the country illegally and was later taken into custody.
Choksi is wanted in India in the Punjab National Bank fraud case worth Rs 13,500 crore. His lawyer alleged that his client was kidnapped from Antigua’s Jolly Harbor and taken to Dominica by a ferry about 100 nautical miles away. Choksi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said, “We believe that Mehul Choksi is in illegal custody as he was to be produced before the magistrate within 72 hours, which was not done, confirming his stand.” As part of its treatment, he has been asked to produce him before a magistrate. This confirms the illegal detention of Mehul Choksi as argued by the defence.