Choksi’s UK Lawsuit Ends Without Resolving Alleged Abduction from Antigua

Mehul Choksi’s attempt to secure damages in Britain over his alleged abduction from Antigua has ended without a trial determining what happened during his disputed journey to Dominica in May 2021.

Choksi is an Antigua and Barbudan by citizenship.

The development closes the London proceedings over an episode that placed Antigua and Barbuda at the centre of an international controversy involving the diamond businessman and India’s efforts to bring him before its courts.

Choksi, 67, discontinued his claim against the Indian government and Barbara Jarabik after the High Court struck out proceedings against four other defendants for his failure to provide court-ordered security for their legal costs.

The required deposit totalled approximately US$896,752. It comprised about US$562,955 for Gurdip Bath and Leslie Farrow-Guy, and US$333,797 for Gurmit Singh and Gurjit Singh Bhandal.

These amounts were security intended to cover the defendants’ legal costs if Choksi lost his case, rather than a fine or compensation award. The US-dollar equivalents use the September 25 exchange rate of US$1.3246 to one British pound.

Choksi alleged that Jarabik lured him to an apartment in Antigua, where he was assaulted and forcibly removed before being transported by boat to Dominica. He claimed the Indian government and the individual defendants had conspired to arrange his removal so he could be taken to India.

All those named denied wrongdoing. The termination of the proceedings did not produce a judgment establishing whether the alleged kidnapping occurred as Choksi described.

The distinction matters for the Antigua and Barbuda connection: the London case ended over the costs requirement and subsequent discontinuance, leaving the underlying allegations unresolved in those proceedings.

Choksi had been living in Antigua before the 2021 incident. After coming into the custody of Dominican authorities, he obtained legal representation, was eventually released on bail and returned to Antigua, according to the High Court’s account of the case.

Lawyers representing two of the defendants confirmed that the claims against their clients were struck out in July after Choksi failed to comply with the security order. The court also ordered him to pay their legal costs.

The end of the British lawsuit leaves Choksi facing a separate legal battle in Belgium, where he remains detained while challenging extradition to India over alleged involvement in the Punjab National Bank fraud case. He denies wrongdoing.