NEW DELHI: There are provisions to extradite fugitives from Antigua and Barbuda under an arrangement between designated Commonwealth countries without need of any fresh pact, the government said on Monday, suggesting that action is possible in the case of PNB scam accused Mehul Choksi .

Following media reports, government sources denied India has signed any new extradition pact with the Caribbean nation and clarified that according to provisions of Antigua and Barbuda’s Extradition Act, 1993, a fugitive may be extradited to a designated Commonwealth country or state with which there is a general or special arrangement or a bilateral treaty. Antigua and Barbuda notified India as a designated Commonwealth country in 2001.

On August 3, the government notified the existing extradition agreement with Antigua and Barbuda. The gazette notification “directs that the provisions of Extradition Act, 1962 shall apply with respect to Antigua and Barbuda with effect from 2001 i.e. when Antigua and Barbuda notified India as designated Commonwealth country under the provision of its own Extradition Act”. TNN

This means the legal basis for extradition dates back to 2001 when India was designated a Commonwealth country by Antigua and continues to apply to cases like Choksi, wanted by the investigation agencies in India.

Choksi acquired citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in January, weeks after fleeing India. He had applied in 2017 and the Mumbai regional passport office gave him a certificate of police clearance. The government said this was on the basis of his passport having police clearance. This helped Choksi get citizenship in the island nation.

India is trying to get him extradited from Antigua, though that may become marginally difficult since he is no longer an Indian citizen.

