New Delhi: As the authorities of Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday claimed that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi got its citizenship in November 2017, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has written to Antigua asking about his whereabouts.Choksi also swore allegiance to Antigua and Barbuda, a requirement under its citizenship law, on January 15 this year, much before Rs 13,578 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) probe was started by investigation agencies. It shows that Choksi had planned his escape and stay in Antigua much before Indian government acted on the fraud.In a communication sent on Tuesday evening, CBI has asked Antiguan authorities to provide details of his movement, landing and present location, said sources. Although there is no extradition treaty between India and the Caribbean nation, CBI can request the country to send him back as he is facing serious criminal charges and Antigua and Barbuda was party of United Nations Convention on Corruption (UNCAC), which empowers any member country to send a fugitive in the absence of a treaty.Choksi had taken the citizenship of Antigua in November 2017, and oath of allegiance on January 15 this year, according to a local newspaper Antigua Observer.Quoting TOI’s Wednesday report, Antigua Observer reportedly sent a query to the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of Antiguan government.In its response, as quoted by Antigua Observer, CIU has confirmed that Choksi was given the citizenship by registration on November 2017 after “extensive vetting”. “Mr Choksi’s application was subject to robust due diligence international investigation, which is conducted on each principal applicant and dependent, by reputable agencies, including the International Criminal Police Organisation (also known as Interpol) and the CARICOM Implementing Agency (IMPACS),” the CIU statement, as quoted by Antigua Observer, stated.It added that “the investigation revealed no derogatory information about Mr Choksi”.CBI, which is the nodal agency for Interpol in India, however, on Thursday claimed that “no information regarding background check on Choksi was sought from it by the international agency last year”.“”The Interpol has not sought any information related to Choksi from the CBI in the last three four years,” CBI Spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said.A non-bailable warrant was reportedly issued by Karnataka High Court against Choksi in 2016 in a separate matter.“If it (Interpol) had, we would have informed about this NBW,” said a CBI officer.Choksi’s actions show that he had planned in advance his escape and subsequent life knowing that the scam would blow up after the retirement of PNB employee Gokulnath Shetty who was helping him with renewals of Letter of Undertakings, sources said.He escaped the country on January 4 on Indian passport and took the oath of allegiance in Antigua on January 15 this year.The very next day, his firm approached Brady House branch of the Punjab National Bank seeking renewal and issuance of Letters of Undertaking which were denied as the officer concerned sought cash guarantee for issuing these notes, the CBI FIR alleged.The executives told the officer that they have been taking these letters over last several years without any demand of such guarantee, it said.The officer could not find instructions for such LoUs in bank’s system which led to detailed scrutiny where the scam surfaced prompting the bank to approach the CBI with a complaint against which an FIR was registered on January 31 this year.Choksi allegedly swindled Rs 7080.86 crore, making it possibly the biggest banking scam in the country, it had alleged.