Will stay here, Expand business: Mehul Choksi on his Antigua citizenship
New Delhi, July 27: Billionaire diamond merchant Mehul Choksi, who has been at the centre of the biggest bank frauds of India, today broke his silence over the status of his Antiguan citizenship. He said that he has "lawfully applied" to be registered as a citizen of the Caribbean country.
In a statement by the fugitive diamantaire, Choksi "categorically" denied allegations made against him by the Indian authorities and media.
Choksi said that he has applied to citizenship of Antigua under the Citizenship by Investment Program in which a person can take their passport on a minimum investment of one lakh dollars in National Development Fund investment fund.
"During the course of my application, I did all that was lawfully required of me to do," he said.
He added that his application for citizenship was motivated by his desire to expand his business interest in the Caribbean and to obtain visa-free travel access to 130 or so countries.
Choksi has not mentioned the reason for fleeing India. He had fled the country in the first week of January, nearly a fortnight before the country's biggest banking fraud-- the multi crore Punjab National Bank scam-- surfaced.
Choksi said that he visited the United States in January this year to receive medical treatment. In the statement, Choksi reiterated his decision to reside in Antigua and Barbuda, the country of his citizenship.
Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation has approached authorities in Antigua for details on the whereabouts of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi.
Choksi had taken citizenship of Antigua in November 2017, and oath of allegiance on January 15, according to local newspaper Antigua Observer.
The CBI has booked Choksi, uncle of his alleged partner in crime Nirav Modi, in two cases related to the scam and filed charge sheet against him.
Courtesy: www.indiatoday.in
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Principal held for murdering girl student close to BJP-RSS, alleges Gujarat Cong
Ahmedabad, Sep 24: The Gujarat Congress on Monday claimed a school principal held for allegedly murdering a 6-year-old girl student in Gujarat's Dahod district was close to the BJP and RSS.
The child's body was found in the school compound in Torani village in Singvad taluka on Thursday and a probe zeroed in on principal Govind Nat.
Nat, who was taking the child to school in his car, smothered her to death after she fended of his sexual assault attempt, as per police. He was held on Sunday.
Sharing some photographs in which the accused can be purportedly seen sitting with former state minister Arjunsinh Chauhan and attending an RSS event in the outfit's uniform, Gujarat Congress spokesperson Parthivraj Kathvadiya said, "Govind Natt is a political figure. In the photographs available on social media, Nat can be seen with BJP leaders and also attending events of RSS and VHP."
"It is clear from such cases that our daughters are not safe under BJP rule in Gujarat. These incidents are a disgrace to the education sector and has left parents worried," Kathvadiya said in a statement and expressed concern on the accused getting protection due to his political influence.
He also asked if BJP leaders would take out a candle march for "Dahod's daughter".
Responding to the allegations, Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor said his department worked closely with the police to solve the crime at the earliest.
"We worked closely with the police. It is a shameful act by a principal. Thanks to our efforts, police managed to nab him in 24 hours and sent him behind bars. We have already suspended him and our government will ensure the case will run in a fast track court for speedy justice," said Kuber.
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