New Delhi: Fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, who was arrested by Belgian police over the weekend, claimed that he was ‘honey-trapped’ and fell prey to an ‘abduction plot,’ involving a Hungarian woman named Barbara Jabarika. Choksi is wanted in India in connection with the ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.
According to reports, Choksi fled India in 2018. He resurfaced in Antigua and Barbuda, where he had acquired citizenship by investing there. For years, Choksi stayed under the radar until he appeared in Dominica in May 2021. He was arrested there for illegal entry. Reports claimed that’s where the Barbara Jabarika story came to forefront.
Choksi had alleged that he was abducted, tortured, and placed on a boat that took him from Antigua to Dominica. The fugitive trader had claimed that Barbara was part of the plot.
According to Barbara’s LinkedIn profile, she appears to be a “Property Investment Agent” from Bulgaria. Her profile description states that she is skilled in customer service, sales negotiations, leadership and team coordination.
Choksi’s wife Priti had alleged that they met Jabarika, a Hungarian national, in 2020. She alleged Jabarika was part of a honeytrap plan, NDTV reported.
Choksi claimed that Barbara befriended him under false pretenses. He also claimed to have been invited for dinner just before the alleged abduction. Later, he was allegedly overpowered and forcibly taken away.
However, Barbara has dismissed such allegations and also denied being Choksi’s girlfriend. She further claimed that Mehul Choksi faked his identity and introduced himself as ‘Raj’ to befriend her, reported Hindustan Times.
