Win Chadha is now a Belizean citizen

SHARJAH, July 15: Washesher Nath Chadha, the person who holds the key to solve the mystery of 11-year-old Bofors kickbacks case, born on ...

SHARJAH, July 15: Washesher Nath Chadha, the person who holds the key to solve the mystery of 11-year-old Bofors kickbacks case, born on July 19 in 1923 at Haripur Hazara, is no more an Indian 8212; at least as per his new passport.

Chadha8217;s new passport number A002102 issued on 14th September, 1996 by Belize High Commission in London clearly says the holder is a Belizean citizen. The passport is valid till 13th September, 2006. The Indian authorities8217; plan to clip Win Chadha8217;s wings by cancelling his passport number EO 72925 issued at Delhi on September 19, 1988 was in vain as Chadha anticipated the move and made arrangements to circumvent the action.

Chadha8217;s Indian passport was valid till April 7, 1993. Chadha8217;s Belizean passport says the bearer previously travelled on Belize passport number 107892 issued at PO-Belize on the 30-day of December, 1992. That shows Chadha was holding the Belizean passport before the expiry of his Indian passport.

Chadha used his Belizean passport to stamp his UAE residencevisa and for travelling abroad. Many a time he had used this passport to visit London for medical purposes and Cyprus for holidays. The Indian Consulate officials in Dubai are unaware about the new passport of Chadha. As per law before acquiring the citizenship of another country, Chadha should have relinquished his Indian citizenship.

They said Chadha submitted two applications 8212; one on February 21, 1993 and another on July 4, 1993 8212; requesting for a fresh passport. The applications were rejected by the Consulate on July 8, 1993 citing Section 5 2 C on grounds contained in Section 6 2 1 of Passports Act of 1967. But the officials were willing to issue him an Emergency Travel Certificate in case if he intend to go to India. The offer is still valid.

The Belize passport will help Chadha evade the clutches of Indian investigation agencies once again. There will be no provisions in the forthcoming extradition treaty with the UAE to hold a Belize citizen. As per the official documents in UAE, Chadhais a law abiding expat and more than that an investor from Belize. The treaty was ready since August 1997 but political uncertainty in India following the resignation of the former UF government in November 1997 delayed its formalisation.

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