NEW DELHI, Aug 9 - India today said Antigua and Barbuda is considering its request to extradite Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in connection with India�s biggest banking fraud and currently living in the Caribbean nation.
An India team led by a senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on August 3 handed over a request to Antigua for extradition of Choksi who obtained citizenship of the island nation.
�We have been told that they (Antiguan authorities) are examining the (extradition) request,� MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, responding to a volley of questions on the issue during a media briefing.
He said it will be premature to talk about what would be the response of the Antiaguan authorities on India�s request.
India is trying to bring back Choksi from Antigua under the provision of a law of the island nation which provides for extradition of a fugitive to a designated Commonwealth country. He faces various charges in India in connection with the USD 2 billion Punjab National bank scam.
Kumar said as per the provisions of the Extradition Act, 1993 of Antigua and Barbuda, a fugitive may be extradited to a designated Commonwealth Country or a State with which there are general or special arrangement or a bilateral treaty. � PTI
