A Dominican court today denied bail plea of Mehul Choksi for illegally entering into the Caribbean island nation of Antigua.
The Dominican court heard the repatriation case of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who had allegedly fled there from Antigua and Barbuda last week.
Choksi appeared before the magistrate court on a wheel chair. Teams from Indian agencies were also present, including seven lawyers represented Choksi in court.
Choksi’s lawyer argued in court.” Various non-nationals in Dominica are on bail for similar matters, so we are of the view that bail can be granted to our client. Let stringent conditions be added to the bail condition, including a bail sum of $ 10,000 double the maximum penalty, for illegal entry,”
“Choksi has no ties in Dominica hence it would serve him no purpose not to flee the island if bail is granted. Choksi has an Interpol Red Notice against him as he is facing charges for 11 offices in India,” submitted Dominica countering the arguments of Choksi’s lawyers.
The Dominican government opposed that bail should not be granted to Choksi as he is a flight risk.
After hearing both the sides, the Magistrate rejected the bail plea of Choksi.
“Given the severity of the matter, I am not convinced to grant bail,” Magistrate Candia Carrette-George ruled.
A CBI team has jetted to Dominica to bring Mehul Choksi to India if the court there clears his deportation.
Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in loan fraud case in India for allegedly tapping ₹ 13,500 crore of public from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking.
