<p>The Antiguan government on Tuesday declared its decision to revoke the citizenship of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, according to multiple reports.</p>.<p>Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the Citizenship of diamantaire Mehul Choksi, accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, will be revoked in short order.</p>.<p>Following the proceedings, the Antiguan Prime Minister on Tuesday said that Choksi has the right to defend his position.</p>.<p>"But I can assure you after he has exhausted all of his legal options, he will be extradited,” Browne said.</p>.<p>“His citizenship was processed; he got through but the reality is his citizenship will be revoked and he will be repatriated to India; so there is recourse. It’s not a case that we are trying to provide any safe harbour for criminals, for those who are involved in financial crimes,” the prime minister said to local newspaper reports.</p>.<p>He said, “We have to allow for due process. He has a matter before the court and as we said to the Indian Government, criminals have fundamental rights, too, and Choksi has a right to go to court and defend his position. But I can assure you, after he has exhausted all of his legal options, he will be extradited.”</p>.<p>Extradition process against Choksi, who is an accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, began in March. </p>.<p>In January, last year, Choksi absconded after the Rs 14,000-crore PNB fraud came to light, whereby the primary accused were diamantaires Nirav Modi and Choksi himself. Following this, he surrendered his Indian passport and took up Antiguan citizenship.</p>
<p>The Antiguan government on Tuesday declared its decision to revoke the citizenship of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, according to multiple reports.</p>.<p>Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the Citizenship of diamantaire Mehul Choksi, accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, will be revoked in short order.</p>.<p>Following the proceedings, the Antiguan Prime Minister on Tuesday said that Choksi has the right to defend his position.</p>.<p>"But I can assure you after he has exhausted all of his legal options, he will be extradited,” Browne said.</p>.<p>“His citizenship was processed; he got through but the reality is his citizenship will be revoked and he will be repatriated to India; so there is recourse. It’s not a case that we are trying to provide any safe harbour for criminals, for those who are involved in financial crimes,” the prime minister said to local newspaper reports.</p>.<p>He said, “We have to allow for due process. He has a matter before the court and as we said to the Indian Government, criminals have fundamental rights, too, and Choksi has a right to go to court and defend his position. But I can assure you, after he has exhausted all of his legal options, he will be extradited.”</p>.<p>Extradition process against Choksi, who is an accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank scam, began in March. </p>.<p>In January, last year, Choksi absconded after the Rs 14,000-crore PNB fraud came to light, whereby the primary accused were diamantaires Nirav Modi and Choksi himself. Following this, he surrendered his Indian passport and took up Antiguan citizenship.</p>