Mehul Choksi could be brought back under Commonwealth laws, govt notifies

The India government in a gazette notification on Monday concurred with the Antiguan government on Mehul Chokshi's extradition on account of both countries being members of Commonwealth.

The MEA in a gazette notification on Monday stated, "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-Section (1) of Section 3 of the Extradition Act, 1962, the Central government hereby directs that the provisions of the Extradition Act, 1962, other than Chapter III, shall apply with respect to Antigua and Barbuda with effect from the date of notifying India as a Designated Commonwealth Country under the provisions of the Extradition Act, 1993 of Antigua and Barbuda, by Statutory Instrument No 34 of 2001 dated the 17th September 2001."



ET reported on Monday that Antigua & Barboda has indicated to India that as both are Commonwealth nations there is a scope under Antiguan law for extraditing Mehul Choksi to Delhi, notwithstanding absence of bilateral extradition treaty.

A team comprising officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and other agencies visited Antigua last week to request the Antiguan authorities to extradite Choksi. The team met the Foreign Ministry officials of the Caribbean nation on Saturday and handed over the request to extradite Choksi to India, ET has learnt.

The team, led by Additional Secretary in the MEA's Consular and Passport Division, also presented details of the case against Choksi. ET reported on Monday that Antiguan authorities are planning to extradite Choksi under Commonwealth laws.

Antiguan authorities cleared Choksi's citizenship in November 2017 after India did not give any adverse report to stall his application for it. Choksi had fled India on January 4 this year and took oath of allegiance in Antigua on January 15. His citizenship was cleared in November 2017.