Last Updated on June 9, 2022, 5:41 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Indian law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency, Enforcement Directorate has filed a supplementary Prevention of Money Launder Act (PMLA) against Mehul Choksi and his wife, Priti Choksi in billions of dollar scam. It is suspected that Choksi along with his wife might again make an attempt to escape Antigua.
According to media reports, the Indian government has asked Antigua and Barbuda to clarify if Priti Choksi is a citizen of the country, which means India intends to initiate an extradition procedure for her. Antigua and Barbuda locals revealed that both Harold Lovell and Mehul Choksi are having frequent meetings in Antigua.
Sources also revealed that during the meeting, Lovell and Choksi had discussed the methods to help Mehul Choksi and his wife abscond from Antigua and Barbuda.
Lovell has made arrangements for their escape from Antigua and Barbuda over the impending criminal proceedings in India, as the verdict is suspected soon.
SKN News earlier exposed that following the removal of charges against Mehul Choksi in Dominica, the opposition came on its toes to make it an election campaign issue, but the opposition was under severe attack by locals for supporting a criminal in exchange for funds.
Priti Choksi, who has a frequent international travelling history, allegedly was the primary person managing the businesses of Mehul Choksi worldwide. According to initial reports from local police, it was revealed that Priti Choksi left Antigua and Barbuda several times during the past 6 months, and officials have indicated that she will be barred from travelling out of Antigua and Barbuda.
Anthony Davis, who owns a restaurant in Antigua, earlier said that there are vast rumours of Mehul Choksi making other attempts to escape the country. However, he did not provide many details but added that many officials are also concerned that there would be another attempt which led the government to increase surveillance of Choksi.
Most of the people of Antigua and Barbuda have a clear vision related to the Mehul Choksi saga that government shall not support any criminal regardless of the circumstances. They expressed that many people in India have committed suicide or are facing severe conditions due to the wrongdoings of Mehul Choksi as he looted the people of India with over US $2 billion.
It is detrimental that political individuals of the country are now supporting a criminal; people suspected that reason behind this could be the promise of election funding to the opposition.
On May 2, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a new case against Mehul Choksi and his company Gitanjali Gems, adding that they defrauded the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI).
According to a senior CBI officer, an FIR has been filed in Mumbai under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), and 471 (whoever fraudulently or dishonestly uses as genuine) following the preliminary investigation into the complaint received against Mehul Choksi and his company Gitanjali Gems from the Assistant General Manager (AGM) of IFCI.
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.
