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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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
