Last Updated on February 7, 2026, 6:09 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The High Court of Justice ordered Indian fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi to deposit £677,000 plus VAT as security for costs in a case he filed against five individuals and the Government of India. The proceedings relate to allegations surrounding his disappearance from Antigua and Barbuda.
The order was issued on Friday following applications by the defendants, Gurmit Singh, Gurjit Bhandal, Barbara Jarabik, Leslie Farrow-Guy, Gurdip Bath and the Government of India, who sought security for legal costs from Choksi. They argued the deposit was necessary to ensure recovery of expenses if the claim is dismissed, particularly on jurisdictional grounds.
The court is scheduled to decide in November 2026 whether it has jurisdiction for the matter to be heard in the UK. In his judgment, Justice Mansfield noted that there was little, if anything, to connect the alleged events to England other than Choksi’s claim that the conspiracy was orchestrated there. He added that there was no direct evidence to support this, and no indication of where the alleged plan was conceived or advanced.
At the last hearing on December 18, 2025, the court considered submissions from both sides and observed that the amount of security would increase if the case proceeds to a full trial.
The judgment also stated that, whatever the final amount, Choksi will not receive any remaining funds lodged with the court, as his assets are already being seized by Indian authorities.
If the defamation case is allowed to go ahead in the UK, the defendants are expected to apply for a further and much higher security order. Submissions indicated that a full trial could last more than 20 days, with total legal costs estimated between £3 million and £4 million, depending on the scope of evidence.
Choksi has further claimed that the governments of Antigua and Dominica were involved in, arranged, or permitted the alleged kidnapping. Justice Mansfield emphasised, however, that neither government has been named as a defendant. In an earlier ruling, the court said, “I am not satisfied that there is a strong probability of success,” and added that there was no witness evidence of the alleged abduction or assault beyond Choksi’s own account.
Although Choksi is claiming £200,000 in damages, he has now been ordered to pay £677,000 as security, with the case expected to cost him significantly more. The court noted that this suggests he is spending far beyond the sum claimed, raising questions about his motives for pursuing the litigation.
Grounds advanced by Choksi’s legal team
Choksi’s lawyers have put forward ten principal grounds in support of the defamation claim. One centres on the travel movements of the five defendants in April and May 2021. His counsel, Edward Fitzgerald KC and team, questioned how they could have travelled to Antigua and Barbuda on similar routes or flights if they had no prior connection.
This was disputed by a private investigation led by former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, whose team spent a month in the Caribbean examining the issue. Investigators interviewed the travel agent who arranged the bookings, who said it is common for unrelated travellers to holiday in Caribbean destinations within short periods and even to fly similar routes, particularly during COVID, when flight connectivity was limited. Documentary examples were said to support that position.
Another piece of evidence relied upon CCTV footage said to show Gurdip Bath entering a vehicle with another unidentified individual nearby. Choksi’s lawyers cited this as part of their case narrative. However, a UK-based forensic team concluded the footage was of insufficient quality to provide reliable identification, with vehicle details unreadable. While Bath said the other person was Leslie Farrow-Guy, the analysis stated the footage did not establish anyone’s identity with certainty. The court also noted that much of the supporting material was hearsay or opinion.
Choksi’s team also alleged that Bath, Jarabik and Farrow-Guy met Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne following the alleged abduction. Investigators reviewed official records from the Prime Minister’s Office, which showed Browne was not in Antigua on the relevant date and was instead in New York before addressing the World Health Assembly in Geneva by Zoom.
A further claim concerned a vehicle hire document listing Gurmit Singh as an additional driver, which Choksi’s lawyers said pointed to prior coordination. Investigators concluded the agreement had been digitally generated and later modified, with Singh’s details added more than a week after the vehicle was hired and a driver number recorded incorrectly.
Choksi has also relied on a police report prepared by Inspector Adonis Henry of the Antigua and Barbuda Royal Police Force. Its credibility was questioned after Corporal Cedric Williams gave a signed statement admitting he had developed an inappropriate closeness with Choksi’s wife, Priti, during the inquiry, leading to his removal from the case and concerns about impartiality among senior officers. Williams acknowledged sharing too much information with the family, an admission cited as undermining the report. The same investigation had earlier contributed to Interpol withdrawing its Red Notice against Choksi.
In Dominica, Choksi’s lawyers pointed to a settlement agreement over his alleged illegal entry, supported by statements from senior officials asserting that he had been forcibly taken from Antigua. Defendants argued those statements were made under pressure from threatened defamation proceedings and referred to police station diaries and other officials’ accounts as contradicting that version.
Vessel and timeline issues
Choksi’s legal team further claimed that a sailing vessel, *Calliope of Arne*, transported him from Antigua and Barbuda to Dominica on 23 May 2021. Investigators reviewing immigration and telecommunications data said the vessel departed Antigua at 10:09 a.m., while Choksi reportedly left his residence around 5:00 p.m. Mobile phone records suggested those connected with the vessel were already en route while he remained at home.
Prime Minister Browne and Antigua’s Commissioner of Police **Atlee Rodney** have both publicly stated that available evidence does not support the abduction claim. Investigators also cited a statement from a Jamaican national who admitted transporting Choksi to Dominica, which they said matched official border-control records.
WhatsApp messages involving Jarabik were also reviewed, with investigators saying they showed Choksi making repeated personal advances toward her during the period in question. Despite allegations of an affair, he continues to live with his wife, prompting commentators to question the wider narrative.
Funding and prospects
The judgment also questioned how Choksi intends to meet the security order, noting there was no detailed evidence of his financial position or of how he is funding his legal costs.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
