Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam’s prime accused and fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi has received a major setback from a Belgian court. The court has rejected his bail plea. Choksi, who is accused in a Rs 13,000 crore fraud case, was heard by a three-judge bench on his bail plea and after hearing all the arguments, it was rejected.
During the hearing, Mehul Choksi mentioned his health problems in the court and said that he is ill and should be allowed to stay with his family. He also said that he is ready to accept any condition for bail, even to wear an anklet with a GPS tracking device. However, the court rejected these arguments and refused to grant bail.
Belgium was arrested
Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium on 12 April 2025. The Indian government has sent a formal request to Belgium for his extradition. Indian agencies had received information that Choksi was planning to flee to Switzerland on the pretext of treatment, but he was caught on time. Now the agencies hope that this decision of the court will speed up the process of his extradition.
Experts believe the process will not be simple. According to senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde, while preliminary steps have been taken, it will take time to bring Mehul to India. The concerned ministry in Belgium will have to issue an administrative order, which will be subject to a court order, making it mandatory to follow the legal process.
The crime on which Mehul Choksi is declared a fugitive in India should also be punishable under Belgian law. If any disparity is found in the laws of the two countries, the extradition process may become more complicated. This important aspect needs to be reviewed by both the court and the administration.
Why oppose extradition?
Mehul Choksi has clarified his stand against extradition, saying that the case going on against him falls under the category of political crime. He has alleged that action is being taken against him in India due to political malice. If this argument is validated in Belgian law, it can become a significant obstacle to his extradition. However, the recent decision of the court has provided India with a strong ground in this matter.
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