Choksi citizenship after India's certificate: Antigua


New Delhi, Aug 3 (IANS): The Antigua government has said fugitive Indian jeweller Mehul Choksi was given citizenship of the Carribean country after "stringent background checks" and clearance certificate by Mumbai Police and the External Affairs Ministry.

The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of Antigua and Barbuda, however, said while conducting background checks on Choksi, it found that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) had initiated investigations against him twice. But the cases, according to India's market regulator, had been closed.

In a detailed statement, the citizenship authority said the businessman's application was received in May 2017 with necessary documentary requirements, including a police clearance certificate.

"The said police clearance certificate from the government of India, Ministry of External Affairs Regional Passport Office, Mumbai, certified that there was no adverse information against Mehul Chinubbhai Choksi which would render him ineligible for grant of travel facilities including visa for Antigua and Barbuda."

The CIU statement, shared by Antigua Observer newspaper on its website, said these facts were being made public "in an effort to provide clarity and address misinformation that has been circulating in the public domain".

It said as Choksi's application was subjected to "stringent background checks" as is done with all applications submitted to the unit.

These checks include open source Internet checks, Thompson Reuters World-Check, queries of various sanctions lists, engagement with regional and international intelligence agencies like Interpol as well as contracted third party due diligence providers.

"It was only after the results of all of these checks had been received and assessed that a final decision was taken on the application. In no instance was any derogatory information disclosed on the applicant."

The statement said the CIU received documentation of two instances in which the SEBI, in 2014 and 2017, opened investigations on a corporate entity owned by Choksi.

"We requested updates on the status of the investigations and received documentary confirmation, issued by the SEBI, stating that in one case, the matter had been satisfactorily closed, and indicating in the other that there is not sufficient evidence to pursue the matter further.

"None of these matters is the subject of the current warrants issued by the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) in connection with the Punjab National Bank. It was also observed that (a) 2016 non-bailable warrant (against Choksi) was discontinued in October 2016."

The CIU also dismissed a reported claim by the CBI that indicated that the Interpol had made no direct contact with the Antigua authorities on Choksi.

"The CIU maintains, that this comment notwithstanding, that its background investigations do in fact include Interpol. Were there an active warrant for Choksi at the time his citizenship application was being processed, this information should have already been made available to Interpol, a notification of which would have been readily accessible by the CIU and its due diligence partners.

"Further, the warrant should have formed a part of the criminal records database in India and therefore declared in the police clearance certificate issued by External Affairs Ministry."

The statement said the notice of the ongoing criminal investigation for defrauding the Punjab National Bank to the tune of Rs 13,500 crore against Choksi was first issued by Indian authorities on January 31, 2018.

"As such, these matters emerged well after the background vetting process which would have resulted in the August 2017 approval of Choksi's application and his subsequent registration as a citizen in November 2017."

It said the CIU had taken all reasonable steps to ensure that Choksi was a fit and proper candidate for the grant of citizenship as allowed under the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship By Investment Act.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Bengaluru/Katapadi

    Sat, Aug 04 2018

    This seems to be a patronage of Modi to save his people

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • SJM, Mangalore

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Modi Kirpa....

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Truth Teller, Karnataka

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Today Antigua has said Indian agencies gave a clean chit to Mehul Choksi when they were doing background check for his citizenship request in 2017!!!!. Modi government actually helping these people but saying a different thing to Indians!!!. Why this drama by Central government!?. Bakhts will now say, this all done by Nehru and Pappu!!!!

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    That's the reason why Feku has gone into silent mode on the absconding of all fugitives. Sab mile huve hain.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mohan Prabhu, Mangalore (Kankanady)/Ottawa, Canada

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    If what the Antigua Government is true, then there is collusion and fraud at the highest levels. The Modi Government, if it has clean hands, must purge these anti-nationalists.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Bennaje, Mumbai

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Prabhuji, corruption and bribe doesn't work with Antiguan Government! It is not India, but Antigua who stand by their strict process. They have come out with real facts and that exposes where India stands as a modern country in he world. Proof required on how badly India's name is being destroyed on a daily basis? Modiji, you are really great, you should get the highest honor in the world!

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • ca girishkk, m'lore/dxb

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    The counter by the tiny country to the Govt of Hindustan is like cow dung on the face of......?????

    All Hindustani's who obtained Angiigua, St Kits & Nevis pass port must be investigated...,
    We all know one more famout L Modi was given external Ministry clearance e on humanitarian ground..., later found that L Modi partying with socialists like Naomi Campbell (drug edicts) etc., the news widely reported/information available in the public domain...,

    jh
    jai hind...,

    Now now the count down is once 2019 election is over..., Hindustan may see half a dozen big crony business men expected to leave the country .... no mark for smart guess such names begin with AAA.....????

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • El En Tea, Mumbai

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Only to Fool Indians CBI ED raid
    Now see who is helping to clear the documents
    BJPees ministry of External affairs
    Uff
    Desh Badal Raha hei
    Jai oh Bharat

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jembar Bappu, BAJPE

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Anymore proof needed to prove that modi is not ashamed to be seen with certain business men ?

    Wow citizenship in 2017, absconded india in 2018, what a logic?????

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Robotkem, Kemmannu

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Antigua GOVERNMENT HITS BACK!!!
    MUMBAI POLICE and MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS are in the FIX!!!
    Now AUTHENTICITY of "INDIA'S CERTIFICATE"???

    DisAgree Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Tilak Kamath Mithrabettu, Shirva

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Well, shouldnt India have been a bit more concerned on why someone wants to give up Indian citizenship and take up Antiguan and maybe that alerted a red flag?

    DisAgree Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Fri, Aug 03 2018

    Our leading Gujju-bhais possibly did not imagine that Antigua would provide all the details.

    Despite all these nataks, there are so many in India who blindly believe the leading Gujju-bhais.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [28] Reply Report Abuse


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