<p><strong>New Delhi:</strong> The Dominica High Court denied bail to Mehul Choksi fugitive jeweller wanted in India on <span class="webrupee">₹</span>13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud charges on the grounds that he is a flight risk.&nbsp;</p> <p>Choksi mysteriously went missing on May 23 from Antigua and Barbuda where he has been staying since 2018 as a citizen, he alleged that he was abducted from Antigua by the Indian and Antiguan police officers along with his woman friend, Barbara Jarabica.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <span style="color: #f80707;"><a style="color: #f80707;" href="https://ift.tt/3iCNO8u Modi To Address Virtual G7 Summit Session Today, Likely To Talk About Pandemic Recovery &amp; Climate Change</a></span></strong></p> <p>In his letter to Antigua Police, Mehul Choksi claimed being abducted from the home of Barbara Jarabica and taken to Dominica on a boat. Barbara Jarabica then came out openly talked about this entire alleged abduction claims and divulged information about his plan of visiting Cuba.</p> <p>Later, the Dominican government has declared him as a 'prohibited immigrant'. In fact, the Dominican National Security and Home Affairs ministry has directed the police to take necessary action to remove Choksi from Dominica as per the procedure. On the other hand, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal has claimed last week that Choksi did not enter Dominica illegally and the police cannot arrest him as he is not a "prohibited immigrant".</p> <p>Choksi along with his nephew Nirav Modi is accused in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case. India had already presented its case to enable extradition and present evidence of Choksi's financial fraud to Dominica and urged the country to clear his deportation.</p> <p>The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said all efforts will continue to be made to bring back fugitives to face justice in India.</p> <p>&ldquo;As regards Mehul Choksi, I don&rsquo;t have any particular update this week. He remains in the custody of Dominican authorities and certain legal proceedings are underway,&rdquo; PTI quoted MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi as saying at an online media briefing.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/india/fugitive-diamantaire-mehul-choksi-denied-bail-by-high-court-in-dominica-declared-of-being-at-flight-risk-1463120