NEW DELHI: While Antigua and Barbuda granting a citizenship to Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi has snowballed into a political controversy with opposition parties there demanding answers from Prime Minister Gaston Browne , data analysed by TOI reveals that 28 Indians have applied for the citizenship of the Caribbean nation since 2014.

Seven of these were granted the hassle-free Antiguan nationality between January 1 and June 30, 2017 itself, upon investment of $2,00,000, according to the half-yearly report of Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), which comes under Antigua’s ministry of finance and corporate governance and public private partnerships.

The country, also called ‘Land of 365 beaches’, allows dual citizenship to any foreigner if he/she invests in the National Development Fund (NDF), purchases government-approved real estate, or invests in a pre-approved business.

TOI analysed the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) 6-monthly report of CIU, available on Antigua and Barbuda government’s website.

It reveals that Indians constitute 2.50% of citizenships there out of total 1,121 foreign nationals who have sought refuge in the island since inception of this programme.

The list is dominated by China – with total 478 Chinese nationals (42.64%) applying for Caribbean nation’s citizenship since 2014.

Interestingly, 42 Bangladeshi nationals and 25 Pakistanis have also sought Antigua and Barbuda nationality in last four years using the CIP, as it provides visa-free access to 132 countries and freedom from extradition.

While Mehul Choksi was granted citizenship by Antigua in November 2017, the names of Indians or other nationalities getting the citizenship are not mentioned in the report.

Out of seven Indians availing the facility in the first half of 2017, four applied independently on March 17 and 20, May 19 and June 13, while three applications were processed simultaneously on June 21 alone. All these seven Indians contributed 2 lakh dollars each for the citizenship.

Whether these June 21 applications belong to Mehul Choksi and his family members is not known yet.

The CIP report states that total 2,322 citizenship passports have been issued to the foreigners by Antigua and Barbuda since 2014, with maximum 1,016 issued in 2016.

TOI contacted CIU through email but received no response.

Sources in Indian government said that it would be interestingly to investigate who are these 28 Indians who are enjoying dual nationality and have not informed the authorities here.

The Antiguan citizenship to Mehul Choksi, who fled there from US on July, has already created a political storm there.

As reported by Antigua based The Daily Observer, opposition parties have demanded answers from the government.

Giselle Isaac, Chairman of the main opposition United Progressive Party, was quoted as saying by Antigua Observer that the matter was a major concern for her party and called the silence of PM Browne as “frightening”.

Meanwhile, in a post cabinet press briefing issued by the Chief of Staff in the Office of PM – Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst was reported as saying that, although there is no extradition treaty between India and Antigua, the island nation will make every effort within the law to honour a “legitimate” request from India, as reported by The Daily Observer. Choksi matter was reportedly discussed in the cabinet meeting there.



In Video: Why fugitive Mehul Choksi chose to get a passport from Antigua and Barbuda