Choksi names mystery woman in complaint

New Delhi Fugitive businessman diamantaire Mehul Choksi, who is currently in Dominica, has named mysterious woman Barbara Jabarica, and 'Indian officers Gurmit Singh and Narindra Singh in his complaint filed with the Antigua and Barbuda Police.

On June 4, IANS was first to report the name of Gurmit Singh, a resident of India whose name was mentioned in the passenger list of the two vessels — Lady Anne and Calliope of Arne. IANS had accessed the pictures of the vessels, several documents, and two men dressed in black 'kurta pajama' standing onboard with three other men. The passenger list of Callioppe of Arne mentions the names of Gurjit Bhandal, a resident of Birmingham in the UK, and Gurmit Singh, a resident of India, according to the records of the Cobra tours. The Calliope of Arne had entered the Portsmouth port in Dominica on May 25, according to the Customs and Excise department documents. Choksi's complaint with the Antigua Police was filed on June 2. In his complaint, Choksi, who is facing charges of entering Dominica illegally, has stated that that he has been residing in Antigua and Barbuda for the last three years, and there he came in contact with Jabarica, who used to stay in his neighbourhood. He also stated that he had gone to meet Jabarica on May 23 at around 5 pm when he was abducted by 8 to 10 people claiming to be Antigua police officers. In his complaint to the police, Choksi alleged that the people who abducted him said that they will be taking him to the St John's police station. When he resisted and requested to contact his lawyers, "I was physically restrained and hit from all sides", the fugitive businessman said in the complaint. "I attempted to get away, but I was quickly overpowered, owing to being so heavily outnumbered due to my poor state of health. My attackers continued to beat me mercilessly with bare hands and also utilised a Taser (gun) on my face, hands and exposed skin, causing burns, bruises and immense pain. They further told me that if I continued to resist, they would file a complaint against me for obstruction of justice," Choksi said.

Choksi further said that the attackers put him on a wheelchair, as he was in almost comatose state.

He further said that in the same state he was taken to the backside of Jabarica's house and was placed on what seemed like a very small watercraft. "During this entire ordeal, Jabarica did not even attempt to help me or assist in any other way by calling for help from outside," he said.

"The manner in which Jabarica conducted herself, including by not helping me get free from the said persons, and her subsequent lack of initiative in contacting the police clearly points to the fact that she was an integral part of this entire scheme to kidnap me," The fugitive businessman alleged.

He also said that he was shifted to a much larger boat where his mask was removed. "I realised we could not possibly be going to St John's police station, as there was no need to utilise a boat to go there." Choksi claimed.