Govt readying AI Boeing to fly with ED & CBI men on West Indies mission?

New Delhi: India is moving ahead to bring back high-value economic offenders from the West Indies, according to a report in news agency Indo-Asian News Service (IANS). Top government sources have confirmed that a long-range Air India Boeing has been commissioned to handle this mission, said IANS.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, too, will fly to the West Indies to bring these persons back, the agency claimed. Availing of the controversial paid citizenship programme provided by many of the islands in the Caribbean, diamantaire Mehul Choksi and Winsome Diamonds promoter Jatin Mehta have taken citizenship in these parts, added Indo-Asian News Service.

Mehta became a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis some years ago while Choksi has taken Antigua and Barbuda citizenship recently. These islands provide visa free travel to 132 countries. Citizenship through investment has become popular among Indian economic offenders.

Investigative agency sources also revealed that Choksi and absconding diamantaire Nirav Modi are the principal targets of this exercise but it is not clear whether Modi lives on one of these islands.

Choksi may be picked up in the Caribbean while Modi may be sequestered on the return route from Europe where he is reportedly hiding, reported Indo-Asian News Service. Lack of extradition treaties has made these islands a safe haven for India's uber rich.