Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s legal team claimed in London on Thursday that Choksi was kidnapped on May 23, behind which four British residents, three of whom are reported of Indian origin. This legal team claims that Choksi was kidnapped from Antigua and Barbuda and taken to Dominica.
The legal team, led by lawyer Michael Polak, said the four British residents had traveled from London to Antigua and Dominica. Polak represents an organization called Justice Abroad.
Claiming that Choksi’s family had contacted him, Justice Abroad said in a statement, “The purpose of this action (alleged kidnapping) was to remove Choksi’s security in Antigua.”
Addressing a press conference, Polak said that in early April, a British resident named Barbara Jarabica aka Barbara Jose flew from London to Antigua with another person. Jarabica reportedly flew to Dominica on a private plane with the same person and they stayed there for a few days before coming back to Antigua. Polak claimed that the next day the duo, along with two other men, Gurmeet Singh and Gurjit Bhandal, flew to London.
Choksi has claimed that a woman named Barbara had befriended him and helped in his abduction, while his wife has named Gurmeet and Gurjit to ‘abduct’ him.
Polak said that during their time in the Caribbean in April, Singh and Bhandal tried to dock a yacht at the Dominica Port. According to him, April’s visit could be “a reconnaissance or a failed attempt to kidnap Choksi”.
Polak showed a customs document mentioning the names of Bhandal and Singh as an acceptance for entry into Dominica on 25 May. He also showed a picture of two men at the port, claiming that they were Singh and Bhandal.
Polak said that on May 8, Jarabica had booked two villas in Antigua. According to him, as part of this “pre-planning”, Jarabika stayed in one property, and Choksi was “kidnapped” in another.
Polak claimed that soon after Choksi went missing from Antigua, Jarabica and another UK resident took a private jet to Dominica. Pollak said that on May 28, when Choksi was in Dominica’s custody, Bhandal, Singh and Jarabika left Dominica.
He also said that when Choksi was being taken to Dominica, he was asked to sign a document, which was probably a consent letter to deport him to India.
Asked about Choksi’s family’s claims that it was an operation by Indian agencies, Polak said, “I think the motive really speaks for itself”.
Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi had allegedly embezzled Rs 13,500 crore from Punjab National Bank. Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 and fled India in the first week of January 2018. It was only after this that the scam came to the fore.
Polak said his team has also filed a complaint with the UK’s Metropolitan Police’s war crimes unit on the grounds that Choksi was tortured.
Describing Choksi’s case as a ‘gross violation of the rule of law and basic rights’, Polak said, “What has happened to Choksi is horrific. He was abducted by luring him with a property. A bag over his head” He was kept, thrashed and forcibly put on a boat and illegally deported to another country.”