narsi.benwal@fpj.co.in
Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi has filed a complaint with the Antiguan Police alleging that he was “kidnapped” by “muscle men” including two from India and was taken to Dominica, where he is presently lodged in jail. The prime accused in the multi-crore money laundering and fraud case pertaining to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam has claimed he was abducted and taken on a watercraft where he was to be interviewed by a “high-profile” Indian politician but the interview didn’t happen.
In his 5-page letter written through his legal team led by advocate Vijay Aggarwal, Choksi claimed he was picked up from the house of his female friend Barbara Jabarica on the evening of May 23, when he had been to her place for the daily evening walk.
According to Choksi, soon after he reached Jabarica’s house several muscle men barged into her house and nabbed him. He claimed the men assaulted him while he tried to resist and even tortured him with a taser because of which he sustained several injuries.
The letter states the alleged “captors” took away from him his cellphone, his Rolex watch and even his wallet that had around $1,500. It then mentioned he was tied on a wheelchair and put on a small watercraft where he met two Indians, who were waiting for him there.
“The 2 Indian men and 3 of Carribean descent, from the way they conducted themselves, seem to be highly experienced mercenaries and contractors hired specifically for abducting me in such a brutal and unlawful manner,” Choksi’s complaint said.
Choksi said the Indian men told him they were keeping an eye on him for the last year and even inquired him about his offshore accounts, to which he didn’t respond claiming to have no such hidden account with hidden money. “I was made to speak to Narinder Singh, who claimed to be the in-charge of the case. He pressured me to give a statement that I have come on the watercraft from my own will. Upon my resistance he threatened of more physical and mental harm,” the letter states.
“He told me I was brought to this special location to give an interview to an high ranking Indian Politician. He said my citizenship would be fixed in Dominica and would accordingly be repatriated to India,” he said in the letter.
The letter then states he was handed over to another bigger boat full of policemen from Dominica and they told him he was arrested because of the red notice issued against him by Interpol.
It stated he was kept in a 20 sqft cell and wasn’t given food, medical care or an opportunity to consult his legal team. Choksi sought a probe into his contentions against the men, who allegedly abducted, assaulted and tortured him and even denied him basic human rights.
"I tried to get away, but I was overpowered, owing to being so heavily outnumbered due to my poor state of health. My attackers continued to beat me mercilessly with bare hands and also utilised a Taser (gun) on my face, hands and exposed skin, causing burns, bruises and immense pain. They further told me that if I continued to resist, they would file a complaint against me for obstruction of justice," said .Choksi
