Foreign Minister of Antigua & Barbuda EP Chet Greene
The government of Antigua & Barbuda is committed to assist India in extraditing PNB scam accused Mehul Choksi, its foreign minister informed External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday.
Choksi, who is fled India days before Rs 13,400 crore PNB scam was unearthed, has taken Antiguan citizenship.
Foreign Minister of Antigua & Barbuda EP Chet Greene had a bilateral meeting with Swaraj on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York.
"Meeting had been arranged at the request of Foreign Minister of Antigua & Barbuda. He personally wanted to tell the EAM of the commitment of his PM, his govt regarding the extradition of Mehul Choksi," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told media.
He further informed that during the meeting Swaraj told Greene that 'quicker the matter is resolved, better it is'. Her counterpart replied that they were trying their best. He said there were some legal angles and court procedures which they'll examine but he expressed the commitment of his PM and government before EAM, Raveesh Kumar informed.
Diamond jeweller Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after it was detected that they allegedly cheated PNB (Punjab National Bank) of more than Rs 13,400 crore with the purported involvement of a few of its employees.
The scam, which reportedly began in 2011, was detected in January, after which PNB officials reported it to the probe agencies.
Two criminal complaints were filed by the ED in these instances after taking cognisance of CBI FIRs.
Non-bailable warrants were issued against Nirav Modi and Choksi. Also, an Interpol 'red corner' arrest warrant has been issued against Nirav Modi on the ED's request.
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