Why the chase for Mehul Choksi would be a tough one for India

New Delhi, July 25: The hunt for Mehul Choksi, an accused in the PNB fraud case may be harder than what India would have expected. Reports suggest that he may have or is in the process of shifting to Antigua.

India suspects that he may have already bought an Antigua citizenship. Antigua incidentally allows dual citizenship. Antigua is one of the safest tax havens and the absence of an extradition treaty with India would only make the chase harder.

India has written to Antigua asking for more details regarding Choksi. A reply is yet to be received in this regard.

If Choksi has already bought the citizenship and obtained a passport, he could fly around freely. While there is an Interpol Red Corner Notice against Nirav Modi, the request by the CBI to issue one against Choksi is still pending.

CBI sources tell OneIndia that they are still awaiting a reply from Antigua. It is a tough case, but in the absence of the extradition, there are other ways of going about the issue. We could go through diplomatic channels in the absence of the extradition treaty, the officer also said.

Meanwhile the Enforcement Directorate had told a court that both Nirav Modi and Choski should be declared as fugitive economic offenders. Once declared under the new ordinance their assets could be seized and sold off. While absconding the duo do not have any legal right to challenge such action.

Choksi, it may be recalled had said that he would not return to India as he fears mob-lynching.