Mehul Choksi missing? Antigua cops confirm wife's complaint; FM thanks India for vaccine

As search for fugitive former diamantaire Mehul Choksi continues, a police officer from Johnson Point police station ( precinct near where Choksi has a home) told Republic TV on Tuesday that a missing complaint h been filed by his family. PNB scam accused purportedly went "missing" after going out for dinner in Antigua island on May 23 and could t be traced even though his vehicle was traced in Jolly Harbour later. Speaking exclusively to Republic TV's Executive Editor Niranjan Narayanaswamy, an officer from Johnson Point Police Station said that statement of Mehul Choksi's wife h been recorded after she lodged missing persons complaint and that re were details of wher  fugitive diamond merchant h fled to Cuba. ting that precise information about Mehul Choksi was still unkwn to Police, Antiguan cop told Republic that his car was spotted in Jolly Harbour area at a distance from his residence.

Republic speaks to Antigua Police on Mehul Choksi's whereabouts

Antigua's Foreign Minister thanks India for support in fight against COVID-19

Antigua & Barbuda's Foreign Minister Everly Paul 'Chet' Greene informed Republic Media Network that law enforcement ncies were conducting searches & that investigation was underway. Although Mehul Choksi's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told Republic TV in an exclusive interview on Tuesday that fugitive diamond merchant hn't fleed to Cuba (as claimed in certain quarters), his current location is yet to be ascertained. 

Terming diplomatic relations with India as 'mature', Foreign Minister Everly Paul 'Chet' Greene thanked Indian govt for its 'generous support' via supply of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines and deemed donation as 'teworthy' in backdrop of 'vaccine nationalism and challenges to small countries.' He also expressed his desire to visit India with a delegation, including legendary cricketer Sir Vivian Richards, to explore new & enhanced relations between two nations. Antigua & Barbuda's Foreign Minister expressed confidence in fighting off  health and ecomic pandemic COVID-19 with support of people. 

"Diplomatic relations with India continues to mature and I’m looking forward to visiting post-pandemic with a delegation to include Sir Viv as we explore new and enhanced relations," Foreign Minister Everly Paul 'Chet' Greene told Republic TV. 

Mehul Choksi faces prospect of extrition

Mehul Choksi is under scanner of both Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate. Along with his nephew Nirav Modi, he allegedly siphoned off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from Punjab National Bank (PNB), using letters of undertaking. Owner of Gitanjali group, a retail jewellery company, Choksi secured citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in vember 2017 under aegis of Citizenship by Investment Programme and fled to island nation in first week of January 2018.

India formally sought Choksi's extrition in August 2018 underlining principle of reciprocity, principle of dual criminality, and United Nations Convention against Corruption to which both countries are signatories. In 2019, Antigua and Barbuda PM Gaston Browne said that Mehul Choksi will be revoked and will be extrited to India once all his legal options are exhausted. current legal status of fugitive diamantaire is shrouded in mystery as Aggarwal has stressed that PNB scam accused remains a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda.