
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked Prime Minister Modi over Antigua and Barbuda's clarification for providing citizenship to fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi.
In a tweet posted on Twitter Gandhi called the fugitive diamantaire as "Mr 56's 'suit-boot' BFF".
He added that Mehul was given a clean chit in November 2017 which enabled him to get citizenship of Antigua.
His tweet read, "In today’s big news: India gave Mehul “Bhai” Chowksi, Mr 56’s “suit-boot” BFF, a clean chit in Nov 2017, enabling him to obtain Antiguan citizenship. This “Bhai” looted PNB of 13,000 Cr., before scooting from India.
The post was also attached with a video which showed PM Modi addressing an event and calling Mehul Choksi as "Mehul Bhai".
In a counter attack the BJP has asked the Congress to explain the reported statement by Mehul Choksi's lawyer that the jeweller had links with "big dealers" of India's opposition party, a media reported.
A day before reports surfaced stating Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship By Investment Unit (CIU) clarification that it took all steps to ensure fugitive diamantaire and Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam accused Mehul Choksi was a 'fit and proper candidate' for the grant of citizenship as allowed under the country's Citizenship By Investment Act.
In a press release, the CIU stated that Choksi's application was received by them in May 2017 with the necessary documents required, including a police clearance certificate as required by the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship By Investment Act 2013.
"The said police clearance certificate from the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs Regional Passport Office, Mumbai, certified that there was no adverse information against Choksi which would render him ineligible for grant of travel facilities including a visa for Antigua and Barbuda," the CIU said.