Belgium Court says Mehul Choksi to be extradited to India in PNB fraud case
By Anj;li Sharma
WASHINGTON – The Antwerp Court of Appeal in Belgium on Wednesday has dismissed fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s appeal and upheld a decision to extradite him to India, immediately as per media reports.
Choksi is a central figure in the alleged Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, the court papers stated.
The court found that all legal conditions for extradition were met. It declared the Indian arrest warrants from 2018 and 2021 enforceable, permitting his surrender to Indian authorities.
It excluded one specific charge related to “causing the disappearance of evidence” from the extradition purview.
Choksi had argued that his life and liberty would be at risk in India, claiming he was a victim of a political witch-hunt and would not receive a fair trial. He also cited a precarious health condition.
The court found that he failed to provide “substantial grounds” to prove a “real risk” of inhuman treatment or a flagrant denial of justice.
The ruling marked a major victory for Indian agencies seeking to bring Choksi back to face trial, to bring end to his long-running legal battle in Belgium.
