Priti Choksi the wife of the Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi who is now embroiled in a legal battle with the Antiguan government over extradition says her husband was “kidnapped” is not an Indian citizen and must be returned to Antigua.
Choksi in 2017 obtained citizenship of Antigua & Barbuda and is now wanted in India on allegations of fraud.
According to his wife, on January 31, 2018, he (Choksi) was made aware by the Indian government that they were investigating him for allegations of fraud.
She also explained that there are two sets of allegations one for a billion dollars and the other on the name of another company for a billion dollars. “They are two separate cases,” she said.
Asked why her husband is fighting extradition to India she stated that because “he feared for his life.” “There is always the threat to his life and no one has stood trial in this case yet,” Mrs. Priti Choksi stated.
She also explained that his passport was revoked by the Indian authorities since he obtained citizenship of Antigua which is clear under Indian laws. “He is a citizen of Antigua & Barbuda and also CARICOM,” she stated.
According to the Constitution of India under “Surrender and Renunciation of Indian Citizenship” under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955, Persons of Indian Origin is not allowed DUAL Citizenship.
“If a person has ever held an Indian Passport and has obtained the Passport of another country, they will be required to surrender their Indian Passport immediately after gaining another Country’s nationality.
If a person has ever held an Indian passport and has obtained the passport of another country, they will be required to surrender their Indian passport immediately after gaining another country’s nationality.
After Renunciation of Indian Citizenship, it is necessary to apply for Surrender or a Renunciation certificate,” the Act says.
A stamp saying “cancelled due to acquiring foreign nationality” is required.
“It should be noted that Indian passports that carry only a “cancelled stamp” are not considered renounced of their Indian citizenship.”
Antigua she stated did its own investigations when they applied for Citizenship and they have done their due diligence and found “no criminal complaint against her husband, and that was when it was given.”
She called on Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to “stop referring to my husband as an Indian (citizen) he is not and he was kidnapped against his will and brought to Dominica.”
Choksi is in Dominica and has been charged for illegal entry and has pleaded “not guilty” in the magistrate’s court. The matter is set for trial on June 14, 2021. He has not been granted bail and has filed an application in the high court seeking bail.
His wife says that they will fight for his release. “We are going to fight for his release and his safety because his life is under threat. If anything happens to him in Dominica it will be a travesty of justice…the government should be fighting tooth and nail for its citizen,” she remarked.
She states that her husband is in a foreign land and has been tortured and its “appalling”.
“He should be returned to his family back in Antigua & Barbuda. We are hopeful that the courts will free him and send him back to Antigua to deal with his matters; he is not an India citizen. Enough evidence is building up to show he was kidnapped. I know there are many Dominicans and Antiguans who are troubled by this situation. Let him come home to Antigua. His health does not permit him to travel long distance. My husband is available to be interviewed via zoom on the matter all they need to do is send someone down, he is available.”