Antigua and Barbuda citizen Mehul Choksi has abandoned his remaining legal claims in Britain over his alleged abduction from Antigua and removal to Dominica in 2021, bringing the case to an end without a court ruling on his kidnapping allegations.

The 67-year-old diamond businessman discontinued his claims against the Indian government and Barbara Jarabik after proceedings against four other defendants were struck out by the High Court because he failed to provide security for their legal costs.

The decision means the British courts will not determine whether Choksi was forcibly taken from Antigua as he has alleged.

Choksi claimed Jarabik enticed him to an apartment in Antigua in May 2021, where he was attacked before being taken against his will to a boat and transported to Dominica.

He alleged that the operation was part of a conspiracy involving the Indian government and several individuals to remove him from Antigua and ultimately return him to India.

Jarabik and the other defendants denied the allegations.

Before the claims against four defendants could proceed, Choksi was required to lodge money with the court as security against their potential legal expenses.

The amount was approximately US$896,752, based on the September 25 exchange rate of US$1.3246 to £1. About US$562,955 was required in relation to Gurdip Bath and Leslie Farrow-Guy, while another US$333,797 related to Gurmit Singh and Gurjit Singh Bhandal.

The money was not a fine or damages award. It was intended to protect the defendants against their legal costs if Choksi ultimately lost the case.

After Choksi failed to comply with the security requirement, the High Court struck out the claims against the four defendants in July and ordered him to pay their legal costs.

He subsequently discontinued the remaining proceedings against Jarabik and the Indian government.

As a result, the case ended on procedural and costs-related grounds rather than after a trial examining the competing accounts of what happened in Antigua in May 2021. The allegations surrounding Choksi’s departure therefore remain unresolved by the British proceedings.

Choksi had been living in Antigua and Barbuda before suddenly appearing in Dominica in 2021.

After he was detained by Dominican authorities, lawyers acting on his behalf maintained that he had been kidnapped from Antigua and forcibly transported to the neighbouring country. He later secured bail and returned to Antigua.

The incident attracted international attention because India has sought Choksi in connection with the multibillion-dollar Punjab National Bank fraud case. Choksi denies wrongdoing.

Although the British litigation has now ended, his legal battles continue elsewhere.

Choksi remains detained in Belgium, where he is challenging efforts to extradite him to India to face allegations arising from the bank fraud case.

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: Choksi’s UK Lawsuit Ends Without Resolving Alleged Abduction from Antigua.