<p>Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, wanted in the Rs 13,000-crore PNB scam, may have <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/fugitive-diamantaire-mehul-choksi-goes-missing-in-antigua-989657.html" target="_blank">gone missing in Antigua</a> and reached Cuba, according to Antigua Police. He has been reported missing since May 23, 2021.</p>.<p>Choksi seems to have made this move since the Indian government has been putting pressure on Antigua to revoke his citizenship.</p>.<p><strong>But, why did Mehul Choksi go to Antigua?</strong></p>.<p>In the first week of January 2018, Mehul Choksi had fled India, almost a month before the PNB scam surfaced. Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, were booked by CBI in two cases related to the banking fraud and filed a charge sheet against them. The duo allegedly siphoned off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National bank.</p>.<p>In July 2018, it was found out that Choksi had reached Antigua that month. He had also taken citizenship of the twin-island nation in November 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP).</p>.<p><strong>What happened?</strong></p>.<p>Choksi gave up his Indian citizenship in January, 2019. He cancelled his passport and <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/bank-fraud-fugitive-mehul-714128.html" target="_blank">surrendered it</a> to the Indian High Commission when the government objected to his dual citizenship.</p>.<p>It is believed that the fugitive diamantaire took this move also to avoid extradition to India.</p>.<p>However, in June 2019, the authorities of Antigua confirmed that his citizenship <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/antigua-revokes-mehul-choksis-citizenship-742617.html" target="_blank">will be revoked</a> after he exhausted all his legal options and that the country doesn’t want to provide a safe space for criminals like him.</p>
<p>Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, wanted in the Rs 13,000-crore PNB scam, may have <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/fugitive-diamantaire-mehul-choksi-goes-missing-in-antigua-989657.html" target="_blank">gone missing in Antigua</a> and reached Cuba, according to Antigua Police. He has been reported missing since May 23, 2021.</p>.<p>Choksi seems to have made this move since the Indian government has been putting pressure on Antigua to revoke his citizenship.</p>.<p><strong>But, why did Mehul Choksi go to Antigua?</strong></p>.<p>In the first week of January 2018, Mehul Choksi had fled India, almost a month before the PNB scam surfaced. Choksi and his nephew, Nirav Modi, were booked by CBI in two cases related to the banking fraud and filed a charge sheet against them. The duo allegedly siphoned off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National bank.</p>.<p>In July 2018, it was found out that Choksi had reached Antigua that month. He had also taken citizenship of the twin-island nation in November 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP).</p>.<p><strong>What happened?</strong></p>.<p>Choksi gave up his Indian citizenship in January, 2019. He cancelled his passport and <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/bank-fraud-fugitive-mehul-714128.html" target="_blank">surrendered it</a> to the Indian High Commission when the government objected to his dual citizenship.</p>.<p>It is believed that the fugitive diamantaire took this move also to avoid extradition to India.</p>.<p>However, in June 2019, the authorities of Antigua confirmed that his citizenship <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/antigua-revokes-mehul-choksis-citizenship-742617.html" target="_blank">will be revoked</a> after he exhausted all his legal options and that the country doesn’t want to provide a safe space for criminals like him.</p>