Indian authorities finally caught up with fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi. Over the weekend, he was arrested by Belgian police as he allegedly tried to escape to Switzerland to seek medical care. The arrest was the culmination of a determined seven-year manhunt in various nations. One of the most bizarre episodes in Choksi’s escape saga involves Barbara Jabarika, a Bulgarian property agent, who is reportedly linked to a 2021 honey-trap and abduction scheme that Choksi claims led to his forced transport from Antigua to Dominica.
Choksi’s shocking claim: Abduction by boat
After fleeing India in 2018, Mehul Choksi settled in Antigua and Barbuda by acquiring citizenship through investment. For a while, he remained low-profile. Then, in May 2021, Dominican authorities arrested him for illegal entry. Choksi responded with a startling claim: someone had abducted and tortured him, then forcibly placed him on a boat that took him from Antigua to Dominica.
He accused Barbara Jabarika of baiting him into the trap. He claimed she invited him over for dinner and used the encounter as a trap for his kidnapping.
Who is Barbara Jabarika?
Barbara represents herself on LinkedIn as a “Property Investment Agent” from Bulgaria. Based on her profile, she possesses more than a decade of experience as a direct sales and property expert. She also has skills in negotiation, leadership, and customer relations.
However, Mehul Choksi’s wife Priti tells a different story. She claims Barbara is a Hungarian national and met Choksi in 2020. According to Priti, Barbara acted under false pretenses as part of a coordinated honey-trap operation.
Barbara strikes back: ‘I Don’t Need His Money’
Barbara refuted the charges as unfounded. She denied ever having a romantic relationship with Mehul Choksi and dismissed the “girlfriend” label. She also accused Choksi of deception regarding his identity. She said he introduced himself as “Raj” and made contact by requesting her phone number.
She refused to take any interest in his money, imitation jewellery, or hotel booking. In her own words, “I have my own income and business. I don’t need anything from him.”
Can India bring Choksi back?
India may now seek Mehul Choksi’s extradition from Belgium. Yet, according to former diplomat KP Fabian, the process won’t be easy. He explained that only the Belgian government can decide on extradition. Choksi can also legally challenge the move and drag the case through lengthy appeals.
Fabian pointed out that extradition usually takes years. He gave the example of 26/11 accused Tahawwur Rana—India had first requested his extradition in 2008 but only reached close to it in 2025.
The Barbara Jabarika episode adds an international twist to Choksi’s ongoing legal troubles. As India closes in, the honey-trap claims, identity games, and legal hurdles continue to deepen the mystery around one of India’s most wanted fugitives.
