Court rules that Choksi’s case calling for full investigation into kidnapping can continue

Choksi in Dominica

The high court in Antigua has denied an application by the Attorney General and the Commissioner of Police, to strike out a claim by Indian businessman Choksi, alleging a constitutional violation arising out of a failure to adequately investigate his claims of being a victim of inhumane treatment and torture.

Steadroy Benjamin and Atlee Rodney contend that there was no specific breach of the Constitution.

But that argument was denied by High Court Judge Justice Marissa Robertson last week, who ruled that Antigua and Barbuda have a case to answer.

Choksi said in May 2021, he was kidnapped and taken to Dominica by operatives working on behalf of the Indian Government.

He told the court in Antigua that he was assaulted, choked, strangled, restrained, beaten, punched about the head and body; that he was tasered; threatened with a kitchen knife and subjected to death threats; that he was tied with a rope to a wheelchair; that he was gagged and blindfolded; that he was told that his family would be in jeopardy; he was ill-treated to the extent that he lost consciousness.

He also presented photographs and medical records to substantiate the allegations made in the claim.

It is also noted that the absence of the Claimant from the jurisdiction and his subsequent location in the Commonwealth of Dominica was widely reported.

The judge said that Choksi’s account that he was forcibly removed from the jurisdiction has been, at least initially, supported by the findings in one of the police reports that “The further along this investigation processes more
of the facts are aligning with Choksi’s version of the events that led to his appearance in the state of Dominica.”

The plethora of real and circumstantial evidence makes it clear that a case of kidnapping with broad collusion among multiple conspirators exists. She said having issued a claim, Choksi is entitled to have a resolution as to what is an appropriate response; whether the investigation was an “effective” investigation; whether an effective investigation includes extra-territorial investigations, and whether other reliefs are available to the Claimant.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Choksi said the Indian businessman is pleased that the Attorney General’s attempt to prevent the courts from considering his claim seeking a full investigation of his kidnapping has been rejected.

Last week a Red Corner Notice against Choksi was withdrawn and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has appealed to the Commission for Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) to restore it. A Red Notice, according to Interpol, is “a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action”.

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14 Comments

  1. If we knew better
    April 13, 2023

    Isnt the attorney general supposed to uphold all laws constituted by the state in the interest of the citizenry? Or only be the lawyer complicit of the ill doings of the government administration he is hired by? This is crazy to me that any attorney general would want to have this matter struck.

  2. Mike
    April 12, 2023

    It looks like this whole operation was planned and controlled from Dominica, it’s very possible that the Antiguan Government were not involved, they may have been informed but did not participate because of their independent media and judicial system it was too risky. Only in a corrupted gangster paradise like Dominica such a criminal operation could be attempted and sweep under the rug if the operation is exposed just like everything else.

  3. If we knew better
    April 11, 2023

    Oh Yes!!! All you THOUGHT! he was finished with all you? Think again!!. We (Dominica) have been complicit of kidnapping, torture, human trafficking, assault and only God knows what else. This is an international crime involving the governments of two CARICOM island nations and India. Mr. Choksi i hope that you legally see it through until the end. Mr. Choksi must also be very careful as he might become a target for assassination. These people have no end to what they can do. We have seen it already.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  4. Bwa-Banday
    April 10, 2023

    Choksi is no saint but at least the learned judge is trying to bring what is in the dark to light. However, the question is; Who will investigate the investigator(s) whom I am certain will collude with the powers that be and bring forth a bogus report? My opinion is, the judge should have gone even further and appoint a special counsel with broad powers through out the region where the court has jurisprudence and give a timeline for delivery of the findings. I hereby recommend His Lordship Judge Dr. Irvin Andre or IMPACTS

    Unless that is done, the investigation will be seriously compromised. Those CDPF officers and Dcan civilians will never speak the truth because promotion and money is about to make ding dang. In other words, the big boys are going to put cutlass in dat….remember I said so.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 1
  5. Jonathan Y St Jean
    April 10, 2023

    The populist rulers in Antigua and Dominica must be shaking in their boots. At least the ruling of the court in this matter is an exception to the sort of pussyfooting that we’ve seen of late between the legal system and some governments in the region. No wonder the “me the people ” double doctorate dude in Dominica is allegedly trying hard to be the next president of Dominica. What happens in the darkness will come to light. Let the chips fall where they may. The “new” form of populist Democracy in the region has disappointed the masses and Choksi is indirectly peeling away some layers. I wish him and his legal team good luck.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
  6. Jonathan Y St Jean
    April 10, 2023

    The populist rulers in Antigua and Dominica must be shaking in their boots. At least the ruling of the court in this matter is an exception to the sort of pussyfooting that we’ve seen of late between the legal system and some governments in the region. No wonder the “me the people ” double doctorate dude in Dominica is reportedly trying hard to be the next president of Dominica. What happens in the darkness will come to light. Let the chips fall where they may. The “new” form of populist Democracy in the region has disappointed the masses and Choksi is indirectly peeling away some layers. I wish him and his legal team good luck.

  7. Chichi junior
    April 10, 2023

    Boy Chichi junior and the rest of his enablers must be very restless because they know trouble heading their way

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
  8. Toto
    April 10, 2023

    Good! Choksi may not be straight dealer for all I know but let the truth come out and expose Dominica’s part in this affair too. Let’s see who is innocent.c

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 34 Thumb down 3
    • Man bite dogs
      April 10, 2023

      Ha,ha, ha Toto, you are a joke expose Dominica for what you black are a disgrace to mankind all mouth running wicked and no brain 🧠to tell the woods from the trees.

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 2 Thumb down 16
      • Ibo France
        April 11, 2023

        Foolish people laugh at the things they do not understand, producing the sound of braying donkeys.

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 2
      • Jonathan Y St Jean
        April 11, 2023

        @Man bites dog, a foolish dog will bark at a flying bird. Chew on that one.

  9. Ibo France
    April 10, 2023

    Our Caribbean jurisdictions are rife with corruption. Our rulers are callously depraved men. They are nothing more than liars, fraudsters, and career criminals in high office.

    The region is presently beset with the most heinous of crimes. There is a direct correlation between corruption in high places and the unprecedented rise in crime.

    This is frightening. An Attorney General (AG) and a Chief of Police (CoP) petitioning the court to stop the thorough investigation of the legitimate claim by a citizen of kidnapping. The evidence gathered thus far about this incident is overwhelmingly convincing that this particular crime took place.

    Guess what? Dominica is smacked in the middle of it. The people of the two Caribbean countries that were complicit in this international crime should pour scorn on the two disgraced rulers who were deeply involved.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 4
    • Man bite dogs
      April 10, 2023

      Here it is pot calling kettle black, when people hold grudges filled with resentment hostility towards a person who done them absolutely no wrong is a very unbalance group of people such as ugly Lenny, and his so-called political supporters.

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 2 Thumb down 18
  10. MEME
    April 10, 2023

    Seem like the court in every other Caribbean jurisdiction serve the people better, fairer and more independently than in Dominica.
    The Dominica connection is particularly important in this investigation, with big and incompetent fishes involved. All involved in the kidnippang and torture should be seriously questioned and grilled….Hope all the rascals are found guilty and their “”azzes”” jailed!!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 29 Thumb down 4

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