Imprisoned in Dominica, but Mehul Choksi to remain in hospital; here’s why
A Dominican court changed Mehul Choksi's police custody to prison custody but later allowed him to remain as a patient at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital in Roseau owing to health issues.
In Short
- Choksi's lawyers argued that he be allowed to remain at the hospital
- Dominican authorities are holding Mehul Choksi in custody on charges of illegal entry
- His police custody has been changed to prison custody: Choksi's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal
Mehul Choksi will continue to remain at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital in Roseau on remand for another week. A key accused in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, Choksi was remanded in prison custody by the Magistrate's Court in Roseau earlier on Thursday.
The court had ordered for Mehul Choksi to be shifted to the state prison from the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital.
Choksi's legal team cited his 'poor health' to plead his case before the court. His lawyers argued that it would not be suitable for the 62-year-old fugitive diamond trader to be held in a prison.
The Magistrate's court heard the plea and decided to allow Mehul Choksi to remain on remand at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital. The terms of his remand are likely to be reviewed after eight days.
However, during his stay at the hospital, Mehul Choksi will be guarded by a prison guard instead of a police officer as was the case earlier.
Choksi had failed to show up at the Magistrate's court earlier this week for a hearing. His legal team had cited medical reports to claim that he had been experiencing 'high blood pressure' and 'mental stress'.
"Yes, [Choksi's] police custody has been changed to prison custody but he shall remain in hospital as his medical condition has deteriorated," his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told news agency PTI on Thursday.
Why is Mehul Choksi in Dominica?
A key accused in the Rs 13,000 crore PNB scam, Mehul Choksi fled India in 2018 and settled down in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
In May of this year, he was arrested by the coast guard in neighbouring Dominica and booked on charges of illegal entry.
The case related to Mehul Choksi is being heard by the Magistrate's Court in Roseau, Dominica. He is being held on remand at the Dominica-China Friendship Hospital in Rosea owing to his poor health.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged the Dominican authorities to deport Choksi directly back to India instead of allowing him to return to Antigua and Barbuda.