Missing Mehul Choksi detained in Dominica en-route to Cuba

New Delhi: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, reportedly missing in Antigua from Sunday, has been taken into custody by Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Dominica.

Choksi was said to have tried to flee Antigua to Cuba by boat but was detained when he reached Dominica.

Choksi was wanted by the CBI and the ED in connection with the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case since 2018.

A manhunt had begun for the fugitive businessman on Sunday after he was reported missing on Sunday from Antigua and Barbuda, where he had taken citizenship.

CBI sources here said that he was captured based on the red corner notice issued by Interpol earlier.

However, another CBI source said that the agency is yet to get an official confirmation about the capture of Choksi.

Choksi, an accused in the over Rs 13,500 crore PNB fraud case along with his nephew Nirav Modi, has been residing in Antigua and Barbuda since January 4, 2018.

The CBI and ED, which have filed separate charge sheets in the case, are trying for the extradition of Choksi.

Choksi's lawyer, Vijay Agarwal, told IANS that the businessman's reports going missing were true.