Mehul Choksi To Challenge Extradition In Belgium
Mehul Choksi, the fugitive diamond trader, has been arrested in Belgium at the request of Indian authorities, who are seeking his extradition over his alleged involvement in the ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case. Choksi is expected to challenge his extradition, citing several grounds:
Inhuman Prison Conditions: His lawyer, Vijay Aggarwal, plans to argue that Indian prison conditions are inhumane, referencing a London court ruling in a similar case.
Political Case: The defence will claim that the case against Choksi is politically motivated.
Medical Grounds: Choksi is undergoing cancer treatment, and his team will argue that his health condition makes him unfit for extradition.
Past Allegations: Choksi may also raise allegations of a past “kidnapping attempt” by Indian operatives in Antigua as part of his legal defence.
Despite these challenges, Indian authorities remain hopeful that Choksi will not be allowed to return to Antigua even if granted bail, and they are exploring deportation as an alternative route to bring him back to India. The extradition process is expected to be prolonged due to legal complexities and Choksi’s planned legal challenges.
