Some men in disguise of Antiguan police beat me mercilessly, says Mehul Choksi

Mehul Choksi, who is currently fighting a legal battle against his deportation to India in a high court in Dominica, said that some men in the disguise of Antiguan Police had physically assaulted him, leaving him unconscious.

"Eight to 10 men who claimed to be from Antiguan Police beat me mercilessly. I was barely conscious. They took my phone, watch and wallet. They told me that they did not want to rob me and returned my money," Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi was quoted as saying by ANI in his complaint to Antiguan Police.

The diamantaire is one of the key accused in the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank scam, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, who is also facing extradition in the United Kingdom. Choksi, on the other hand, had gained citizenship in Antigua and had moved there when the fraud case started gathering pace, taking refuge under its laws against deportation.

Also read — Mehul Choksi names 'friend' Babara, Indian agents in his 'abduction' complaint to Antigua Police

Meanwhile, the fugitive diamantaire, who is held in Dominica after his mysterious disappearance from Antigua and Barbuda, alleged that his "friend" Barbara Jabarica was instrumental in his abduction which involved musclemen claiming to be Antiguan Police and mercenaries looking like Indians.

The police have started the investigation after receiving a complaint from Choksi, Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne said.

In his complaint to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda accessed by PTI, Choksi has named Jabarica, Narinder Singh and Gurmit Singh besides other unidentified people as accused.

Choksi has alleged that Jabarica who had developed "friendly terms with him" over the past year was an "integral part" of his abduction purportedly orchestrated by musclemen claiming to be Antiguan Police and mercenaries looking like Indians.

(With inputs from PTI)