Police in Antigua and Barbuda have commenced investigations into the possible abduction of Indian Fugitive Mehul Choksi.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne made that disclosure over the weekend, saying that Choksi’s lawyers had provided names of the people the businessman believes to be behind his abduction from Antigua on May 23 to the Antiguan Police Commissioner.
“I got a message saying Mehul Choksi has filed a complaint with the Antiguan and Barbuda Police to the extent that he was abducted. He made a formal claim in writing to his attorneys that he was abducted from Antigua and taken to Dominica. It is a report that the police have taken very seriously and they are currently investigating the abduction,” Browne said.
Browne said while the abduction seemed “unlikely”, his administration would be very “concerned” if such a thing turned out to be true. “It would mean that there was a greater need for inter-state border vigilance,” he said
Browne had said earlier, that it is unlikely that Choksi was abducted because Antigua and Barbuda does not have the culture of abduction.
“No ransom call was made at the time…He is now making a claim…An enquiry has begun into the conduct of the individuals he listed in their correspondence as possible abductees,” the prime minister stated.
In his complaint dated June 2, Mr. Choksi has named the woman he claims entrapped him as Barbara Jabarica, and “Indian men” that he claims beat him up, forcibly took him on a boat to Dominica and interrogated him as Narender Singh, Arminder Singh and Gurmit Singh.
Choksi said he attempted to get away but he was quickly overpowered, owing to being so heavily outnumbered and due to my poor state of health.
“My attackers continued to beat me mercilessly with bare hands and also utilized a taser 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”
He said due to their brutal beatings, he was unable to resist and was barely conscious.
“They then took my cell phone, Rolex watch and wallet. They stated that they did not want to rob me and returned the money to me at that point of time which was around 1500 dollars. They placed me on a wheel-chair and I was in an almost comatose state. I was unable to resist when they tied my hands, legs and body to the wheelchair. A gag was placed in my mouth, obstructing my airways, causing me to gasp for air. They continued their onslaught and placed a mask on my head so my vision was also obscured,” Choksi added.
He said in the very detailed report that about 15-17 hours after his ordeal began, the boat stopped moving and he was informed that “we had arrived’, which would have been roughly 9:30-1 0:00 AM Antigua time. Upon enquiring further, I was given evasive answers again, but I was told that I had been brought to this special location to give an interview to a high-ranking Indian Politician. He also told me that my citizenship would be fixed in Dominica and that I would soon be repatriated to India”.
However, he said he was soon informed that since Dominica was closed, they would have “to stay here all day.”
“This caused much dismay amongst the crew members as they were constantly getting radio calls enquiring as to why my operation had not yet been completed. They were getting harried as they were supposed to have handed me over to the authorities,” the alleged kidnap victim said.
According to Choksi, “while we were waiting, the cash of 1500 Dollars that had been returned to me earlier, was robbed from me and given to the boatman, stating that once the interview would be done, he would be taking me back to Antigua, effectively rendering me without any source of communication, funds and without telling my family members or legal representatives about my whereabouts”
He said at that point, Gurmit Singh came to him and stated that plans had changed and that “you will go today’.
“They further informed me that they would be handing me over to the Police Commissioner in Dominica and that there will be a coast guard boat coming in one hour to make this transfer happen. It did not arrive for the longest time and I was just about to fall asleep when the alarm was raised that the coast guard vessel was finally approaching” the statement said.
He said he was received by a battery of police on the port one of whom introduced himself as the Chief of Police and told Choksi that the reason he was caught was because of an Interpol Red Corner notice.
“After walking the hallway of the port was handed over to an Officer and team to bring me to the central police station” Choksi added.
On Monday, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that the rights of Mehul Choksi, whom he identified as an Indian, not as Choksi claims, an Antiguan citizen since 2017, would be respected.
“His rights will be respected as has been done thus far and let the court decide what will happen. We have no issues in so far as the matter relates to Antigua and or India, we are part of our own community and we must recognize our duties and responsibilities in this regard,” Mr. Skerrit said, in the first such statement since Dominican courts began to hear the case.
Choksi has since been charged with illegal entry into Dominica an application for bail filed by his lawyers which was initially denied, is expected to expected to come up for another hearing on June 14.
Choksi is wanted in India in connection with a 2 billion dollar bank fraud case.
Choksi had gone missing two weeks ago from Antigua and Barbuda, where he has been staying since 2018 after he fled Delhi.
Accrding to Dominica police, he was detained in Dominica on Monday the 24th of May, 2021.
Too all those people backing Skerro and Gaston in this saga when it is strongly alleged that they masterminded the whole capture of Mr. Choksi be mindful that “today will soon be tomorrow”. When the US decides to kidnap Skerro and take him to the US for his alleged crime of spying on the US with China using the BIGGEST Chinese Embassy in the world at Morne Daniel I hope you all don’t complain. I mother always say when the shoe is on the other foot all of a sudden it squeezes more tightly or so it feels. All I know is the US is wide awake and somebody day will soon come.
They don’t care about Skerrit, all they care about are the small envelopes. Like dogs, they always come back after having been beaten for a few grains of rice.
Deceitful Posers. Very poor acting. Unconvincing and shameful
If it is PM Gaston Brown or Roosevelt Skerrit conducting the investigation then expect it to be a continuation of the same old same old confusion. But if it is an independent police investigation with the view of getting to know the truth, then the answer should be on the way
The Prime Minister of Dominica needs to be put in a dark room under a bright light and interrogated as to if he knows about what is going on with this Indian criminal fugitive from justice and if he was paid any money to bring him to Dominica to escape.
What have you gained from making such comment.
Why is Dominica and Antigua harboring an Indian fugitive from justice? Were people paid to protect him. If he is an Indian fugitive criminal why was he given Antigua citizenship. Did he bribe some government officials is he bribing some people in Dominica? Was he “kidnapped” in Antigua and brought to Dominica because Indian authorities were closing in? Did he pay for his own “kidnapping”?
He was not bribe. They went through the legal qualification and they did not found anything illegal on Choski. It is after he was a citizen of Antigua, India told Antigua government that Choski is wanted in India for stealing Billions of dollars from the bank. They have not tried him in any court in India, so it is allege . That is why the situation looks stinks and fishy.
This sounds like one of these fiction criminal stories you read in novels…Is all this really going on ????
I think they only need to investigate three players and problem solved. Investigated PM Gaston Brown, Roosevelt Liar Skerrit and investigate Mehul Choksi. These are the most important players and if they are investigated with the view of solving this mystery them the truth should speak for itself.
I agree with you 100%
Only now? Boy I don’t know if I can trust Antigua police for three reasons: 1. our caricom officers are only concerned about doing the dirty work to protect corrupt politicians. 2. Dominica and Antigua have a lot in common these days, especially with corrupt politicians 3. The police commissioner of Antigua is a Dominican. Seeing the type of puppet commissioner Skerrit has in Dominica and his closeness with Brown boy.. I don’t know if we will ever know the truth. Wish FBI or other international democratic legal agency were the ones investigating
Choksi will tell us the truth, but it will be made a mockery of. Brown already start talking nonsense and making joke about the matter like of radio i saw.
We already know the truth, even with the court gag order. I know the police here in Dominica will NOT investigate the politicians. They have absolutely no accountability. the police act like the laws do not apply to politicians.
Eh bien, Browne off loaded a hot potato there and Skerrit so greedy he is too dumb to realise he bought a diabe en sac. If the EU put an embargo on our passport now it will be his fault. I’m hopping mad now for that man to put us in a …. but he still thinking he smells of roses.
Oh my God, look at the ignorance and stupidity of Caribbean politicians and police officers from Antigua to Dominica, on display for the entire international world to see! Everything that Choksi says seems plausible. It is the versions by the Prime Ministers and their police officers that make no sense at all. What an embarrassment for Prime Minister Browne of Antigua and Prime Minister Skerrit of Dominica!
How can the Dominica police start an investigation now since the chief of police was at the Cabrits when the yacht arrived and other government officials were just around the corner? Wasn’t that the reason that he was present in the first place? Or was he on holiday on taxpayers expense. Stop all your cover up and come clean with the citizens of DA.
Ye it’s a fishy situation here..soon you will hear nothing more. Story dead. That’s dominica for you.
CHOKSI was not abducted he was taken to Dominica by crooks,traitors,money launderers,habitual criminals and liars.Those supporting him in Dominica are the ones who were paid or promised payment to take him out.
The description you give of the obducters somehow fits people I know who are in very high places ………………..
@lin clown, man I fully agree with you I could not have put it any better, what does that tells you when Linton, goes to court seating there all day showing support to Mr Choksi, money money corrupt money.
Desperate much?
no amount of clowning on DNO can change the facts of the case so go roll your rosary 
@Lin clown, my thought about that abduction story is, based on the status of that man, however he became that way–I mean being a money man–why would he be walking around without at least one bodyguard?
And was he on foot where there were no witnesses when he was picked up by his abductors? I feel a bit perplexed about that abduction story.
Elizabeth, name how many citizens residence on any of the islands you know people with money walking around with bodyguards?
Don’t you know people with bodyguards attract attention to themselves, and that help to jeopardized their life?
And whether or not they have bodyguards if someone truly want to get to them; there is nothing to stop a professional assassin to carryout their deeds; case and point: President Kennedy assassinated in 1963 with a whole pile of bodyguards around him in Dallas Texas in 19632.
His brother senator running for president gun down in Los Angeles, in 19683.
President Reagan shot 1981, he had bodyguards.
In 1982, 30-year-old Michael Fagan managed to bypass security by scaling a Palace drainpipe, and entered the British monarch’s bedroom. He and the Queen chatted for roughly 10 minutes before help arrived. ”The first person to enter her room was a chambermaid 10 minutes after the intruder got in,” reported The Standard at the time. She…
So, Elizabeth, bodyguard, or no bodyguard, it does not make any difference; your boy Roosevelt have some China trained goons following him around, running around a damn car, with guns drawn; if he believe that can protect him if someone wish to hurt him he is mistaken.
Dominica is a place as small as it is snipers has killed people in broad daylight years ago, without being caught!
He’s talking crap about his intelligence told him that somebody was going to kidnap him; by blocking his way with two big trucks!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
And when the put him in the truck they would drive away as fast as the can; and put him in another truck and drive to hell and back!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
The man is a joke, if an organization want to get Skerrit, all they have to do is walk into his house, or office and take the rat out!
bin Laden thought he was safe with bodyguards, the united Stated killed him in his bed!
“Texas in 19632.His brother senator running for president gun down in Los Angeles, in 19683 ”
I erred, the dates should be “1963, and 1968” respectively!
For once Lin Clown you make some kind of sense in your incoherent babble. You are right!! Choksi WAS taken to Dominica by crooks, traitors, money launders, habitual criminals and utter complete liars.
Now i dont personally support him in Dominica permanently, i would much rather he be repatriated back to Antigua. But that would cause a rift between your god and savior, roosevelt christ and gaston “7 shades of” brown.
Now understand that his KNOWN/PUBLIC presence here, has shed a great light on some of the secret activities that our governments have been engaged in. The people of Dominica at least, MUST be responded to with the truth about the matter. Especially of our public servants are involved. What kind of man would you be if you didnt demand the same. This is a case of kidnapping, torture, human trafficking, theft (they stole his money to give to the boat man).*according to his account*
But you want it swept under the carpet and Dominicans to shut up like little slaves.
You realise you implicating government there clown?
They asking the murderer to investigate his own murder. they asking the thief to investigate his own thieving activities, they asking to money launderer to investigate his own white collar crimes. Are we supposed to take the findings seriously? even if you say that you are taking this case seriously? It was you Gaston Browne who set this whole thing up so as not to damage your CBI program. #FOH with that BS. Who do you think you are fooling? And this circus court case we want to have here like is not the dominican government and police force that facilitated his kidnapping and human trafficking to arrive here. Let Choksi tell his story, and watch these leaders act like the man is a clown and a liar. Then throw in the opposition of both countries to try to make this whole fiasco even more of a mockery of our integrity and good name. These people are liars and thieves, and their chickens are coming home to roost. People like brown and skerrit will learn the hard way.
Gaston the investigation has just commenced, you have no place in saying that the abduction is very unlikely. Are you trying to pollute the investigation? In Dominica Acting police chief Corbette, said those who are mentioning the name Vieille Case are malicious, to date nothing more about the mysterious US$500 000.00 found somewhere in the north…
That Choksi matter involving chief liar Skertit and Gaston Brown is damaging the two countries internationally.More so Dominica!!!
It’s only those below who can’t see that
Kid on the Block
Gary
Man bites dog
Lizforsatan
Realist aka Expat
Lin Clown
Anon
They can see it! They are just tired and ashamed but playing brave. Day after day wrestling with the truth is not easy.