UK court has ruled that Mehul Choksi failed to prove he was kidnapped from Antigua in 2021.

The court found no solid evidence to back his claims. Therefore, Justice Mansfield ordered Choksi to provide £600,000 as security for legal costs.

Choksi, a fugitive diamantaire, holds Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment Programme. However, his legal battle continues in London.

According to reports, the judge said Choksi relied mostly on circumstantial evidence. In addition, he presented no independent witness testimony.

Notably, the only direct account of the alleged kidnapping came from Choksi himself. As a result, the court questioned the strength of his case.

While circumstantial evidence can support conspiracy claims, the judge said this case lacked depth. At this early stage, the court found it hard to assess the full weight of the allegations.

Choksi’s lawyer, Mr. Fitzgerald KC, argued against the costs order. He claimed there was strong proof of a conspiracy. Specifically, he alleged that agents abducted and tortured Choksi before trying to send him to India.

However, the court remained unconvinced.

Choksi filed the lawsuit in May 2024. He named the Government of India, four non-resident Indians, and a Hungarian woman as defendants. He claimed they assaulted him in Antigua and then transported him by boat to Dominica.

To support his claims, Choksi submitted a 2021 police report from Antigua. He also presented a statement from a private investigator hired by his family.

Yet the court noted key weaknesses. Both documents relied heavily on second-hand accounts. Moreover, they did not include direct eyewitness testimony.

Justice Mansfield also pointed out that the Antiguan police probe did not move beyond the initial report. Meanwhile, Choksi’s legal team argued that officials halted the investigation due to alleged collusion. Those claims remain part of separate legal action.

Importantly, European courts have reviewed similar allegations. Previously, courts in Antwerp and the Court of Cassation found no proof of abduction by Indian agents.

Now, the UK case continues. Meanwhile, the £600,000 security order stands as a major financial hurdle for Choksi.