Congress alleges government's complicity in Choksi's Antiguan citizenship
New Delhi, July 28 : With Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Friday saying that India has not approached his country on fugitive diamond jeweller Mehul Choksi who has secured citizenship of the Caribbean country, Congress alleged complicity on part of Modi government and the investigative agencies.
"The tragic part is that Modi government has been lax bordering complicity in ensuring that thousands of crores of money duped by the Indian fugitive are brought back within the ambit of law," said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.
"We ask Prime Minister Modi and BJP's departmental organisations like CBI and ED as to how Mehul Choksi was permitted to travel to Hong Kong, UAE, Belgium, the UK, the USA and Antigua," he asked.
Surjewala said despite that no red corner notice was issued by the Interpol.
"Was it on account of some complicity on part of CBI and ED so that he is permitted to take care of his business all over the world?" he asked.
"PM Modi who had a close bonhomie with the prime minister of Antigua, needs to answer as to why doesn't he pick up the phone and urge him to detain and arrest Mehul Choksi.
"...hand him over to us through the normal process of deportation of criminals that is followed in international diplomacy."
"The very fact that the Prime Minister is not doing so raises a doubt about the seriousness and bona fides of Modi government," said Surjewala.
Choksi, wanted in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case along with nephew Nirav Modi, had taken Antiguan citizenship last year.
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Fire breaks out in residential building in east Delhi, nine killed
New Delhi (PTI): At least nine people were killed after a fire broke out in a residential building in east Delhi's Vivek Vihar early Sunday, officials said.
The incident was reported around 3.48 am at a four-storey building in Vivek Vihar Phase-I, following which police, fire and disaster management teams rushed to the spot.
According to the police, the blaze engulfed flats on the second, third and fourth floors of the building, prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
"Around 10 to 15 people were rescued from the premises during the firefighting operation. Two of them, who sustained minor injuries, were shifted to the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital," a senior police officer said.
A total of 12 fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames, while teams from the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), traffic police and local police assisted in the rescue and evacuation efforts.
Police said the fire was brought under control after several hours.
The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained, and efforts are underway to determine the cause of the fire, police said.
Further investigation and proceedings are underway.
