Ramby de Mello, leading Tony Muman and Susana Ferrín, acted for the Fifth and Sixth Defendants in the Case Management Hearing held before Mr Justice Freedman, sitting as a judge of the High Court, on Monday 16 June 2025. They are instructed by Galwinder Singh Kang of Murria Solicitors.

The Claimant alleges that the Fifth and Sixth Defendants entered into an unlawful means conspiracy in the United Kingdom with the Government of India, the First Defendant, among others, to unlawfully render Mehul Choksi, the Claimant, to India.

At the case management hearing, Mr Justice Freedman considered and dismissed the First Defendant’s application that the state immunity application be bifurcated from the remainder of the jurisdiction applications; and the First Defendant’s application to rely on expert evidence in support of its jurisdiction application.

The case is widely reported:

– The Times, “‘Kidnapped’ diamond tycoon sues Indian government in London”: https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/kidnapped-diamond-tycoon-sues-indian-government-m69kxnps5

– Reuters, “Fugitive jeweller Choksi accuses India of orchestrating his kidnap in Antigua”: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/fugitive-jeweller-choksi-accuses-india-orchestrating-his-kidnap-antigua-2025-06-16/

– The Hindu, “Mehul Choksi takes ‘kidnapping’ allegations against India to U.K. court”: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/mehul-choksi-takes-kidnapping-allegations-against-india-to-uk-court/article69704384.ece

– Bloomberg, “Diamond Tycoon Alleges India Abducted Him to Extract False Confession”: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-16/diamond-tycoon-alleges-india-abducted-him-to-extract-false-confession

– The Economic Times, “Diamond tycoon Mehul Choksi claims India abducted him to extract false confession”: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/diamond-tycoon-mehul-choksi-claims-india-abducted-him-to-extract-false-confession/articleshow/121886737.cms?from=mdr

– The Telegraph: “Diamond Tycoon ‘kidnapped and smuggled on to yacht in honeytrap plot’”: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/06/17/diamond-tycoon-kidnapped-smuggled-yacht-honeytrap/