FUGITIVE INDIAN FRAUDSTER HIDING BEHIND CBI PASSPORT TO EVADE EXTRADITION SAYS ILLNESS PREVENTS HIM FROM RETURNING HOME TO FACE THE MUSIC

The last refuge of a scoundrel is the country where he bought his CBI passport"

Mehul "CBI" Choksi, the Indian billionaire who is considered India's Moat Wanted Fugitive, claims, through his attorneys, that a blood clot on his brain, and diabetes, prevent his voluntary return home. Choksi's lawyers have stated that he is even too ill to have his testimony taken in Antigua, where he has sought to escape justice, by virtue of the CBI passport and citizenship he purchased there late last year. eyewitnesses have claimed that he is regularly seen around Antigua's capital, and has patronized many of its restaurants and attractions, disputing his statements of poor health.

Now, Choksi has alleged that, if his health improves, he may possibly return to India in three months, but he has not promised to return. The Government of India is seeking to have him classified by the courts as a Fugitive Economic Offender, which would allow it to seize all of his assets. Choksi's attorneys are contesting that action, which will be heard later this month.

Four months after Indian authorities formally requested his extradition, in the wake of the massive Punjab National Bank scandal involving the country's biggest ever banking fraud, the Government of Antigua continues to delay, alleging that it is "reviewing" the extradition documents, in a clear case of dilatory action. The case has spotlighted one of the major dilemmas presented by CBI passports: the issuing jurisdiction's refusal to extradite their new citizen, notwithstanding that his crimes occurred long before he acquired that prized CBI passport. Antigua, St Kitts and Dominica have all had negative publicity due to their refusal to extradite their CBI citizens for criminal acts committed elsewhere, and those cases have attracted attention from the US and UK.

Antigua is believed to have accepted over two million dollars for Choksi's CBI passport, a sum far in excess of the listed official fees and costs, with the additional money going directly into the pockets of senior government officials, who are violating Commonwealth laws by throwing legal obstacles in the way of his extradition. The longer Choksi remains in Antigua, the greater the chances it will deal a fatal blow to international acceptance of the country's CBI passports are.