by Robert Emmanuel (Antigua Observer) The spectre of Mehul Choksi continues to loom over the Antiguan and Barbudan government and the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) after the Indian-based Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) asked Interpol to restore the red notice against him.
Choksi has been wanted by Indian police over alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating and dishonesty, including delivery of property, corruption and money laundering, in connection with a $1.8 billion scam at the Punjab National Bank.
In the Cabinet press briefing, Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office Ambassador Lionel Hurst said that the situation with Choksi should not be taken as standard bearer for the CIP and its due diligence protocols.
“Choksi has been bad news for our CIP programme because it is not intended to shield anyone who is accused of crimes from answering to those crimes in the jurisdiction from which they come.
