Mehul Choksi was unlawfully renditioned from Antigua to Dominica: Lawyer

Indian fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi who is currently facing the charges of entering Dominica illegally was unlawfully renditioned from Antigua and Barbuda to Dominica so that he would no longer have the option of appealing to the UK Privy Council his lawyer contended on ThursdayMichael Polak part of the legal team representing Choksi and an expert in providing legal assistance to foreign nationals around the world told a virtual news conference that the team has also filed a complaint with the War Crimes Unit of UKs Metropolitan Police on the ground that Choksi was torturedDescribing Choksis case as one of egregious breach of the rule of law and fundamental fairness Polak said What has happened to Choksi has been terrible He was lured into a property kidnapped a bag placed over his head beaten forced on to a boat and unlawfully renditioned into another countryIn Antigua he has the right to appeal to the Privy Council in London to determine whether the government is acting properlyagainst him In Dominica he does not have such protection The motive behind the kidnapping could not be clearer he saidHe further claimed that there was sufficient proof that Barbara Jarabica and the other men involved in the incident had carried out a reconnaissance or a failed attempt to kidnap Choksi in April 2021 and said that Choksi should be returned to AntiguaGiving details of the abduction attempt Polak said Jabarica who lured Choksi to her AirBNB accommodation on May 23 had specifically asked the owner if there is a place for docking a small boat in the backyardShowing chats between Jabarica and owner of the properties Polak said she had discussed taking two adjoining properties after getting confirmation about docking place for boatsPolak alleged that one property was used by people with her who were part of kidnapping teamThe lawyer also claimed that soon after the kidnapping of Choksi Jabarica left Antigua and Barbuda in a private plane to Dominica at 726 pm as she felt safe from investigationPolak also contended that Choksi continues to be an Antiguan citizen and can appeal against any move to strip him of his citizenship or to extradite him to India in the Judicial Committee of the Privy CouncilHe also said that the diamantaire would not have access to this legal protection in DominicaA complaint filed by Polak with the UK Metropolitan Police contended that Choksis case should be investigated by the War Crimes Unit as it involves tortureThe War Crimes Unit of the Metropolitan Police investigates war crimes torture and genocide wherever it takes place the lawyer saidThe Metropolitan Police and Crown Prosecution Service will have the final say in an investigationAccording to Polaks complaint filed with the Metropolitan Police on June 7 Choksi was allegedly lured by Jarabica and then attacked and taken by force by several men to Dominica in a boat The complaint has also pointed out that Jarabica and three men allegedly involved in the incident St Kitts and Nevis national Gurdip Bath Gurmit Singh and Gurjit Singh Bhandal are all residents of the UKThe process is with Metropolitan police and we will let them carry out their investigations We say in this case there is evidence of torture he saidIANS was first to report names of Singh and Bhandal on June 4Choksi who is wanted in Ondianin Rs 13500 crore Punjab National Bank PNB fraud case had gone missing on May 23 from Antigua sparking a massive manhunt He was reportedly captured on May 26 in DominicaChoksi is facing the charges of entering Dominica illegally A Dominican High Court has restrained the extradition of ChoksiThe diamantaire is wanted in India by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in Rs 13500 crore case He had taken the citizenship of Antigua in 2017 and left India on January 4 2018 days before the case came to lightThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever