A Belgian court of appeals has again refused bail to fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi, tightening the noose on the key accused in the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case just weeks before his extradition hearing.
Choksi, arrested in Belgium in April following a formal request from Indian authorities, had sought bail citing his poor health and ongoing cancer treatment. His counsel, Vijay Aggarwal, argued that detention was unnecessary as his client posed no flight risk.
The court, however, sided with arguments advanced by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which warned that Choksi’s long history of evading judicial processes made him a serious risk of absconding if released.
“Just now spoke to DC Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan. Cloudburst in Rajgarh area resulting in the unfortunate casualty of four persons. The fifth one is missing and the search is going on. Meanwhile, there is no injured. Rescue operation is on. Every possible assistance being provided,” Singh said in a post on X.
Also read: SEBI tightens grip on absconding bank defaulter Mehul Choksi
“My client is currently in custody. We intend to file an appeal, stressing his medical condition and the fact that he poses no flight risk,” Aggarwal said.
At a press conference in Delhi, the defence counsel outlined plans to resist extradition on grounds of political vendetta and concerns over medical treatment in India. He argued that sending Choksi back could violate his human rights.
Aggarwal maintained that Choksi has not been officially declared a fugitive and has offered repeatedly to join investigations virtually. “He is willing to join the investigation virtually. Several applications have been submitted to facilitate this, but his medical condition prevents him from returning to India,” he said.
India’s extradition request, backed by the dual criminality clause of the treaty with Belgium, cites charges of conspiracy, cheating, and falsification of accounts under the Indian Penal Code, as well as offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The CBI has further invoked the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) to reinforce its plea.
The PNB case, one of India’s biggest banking frauds, also involves Choksi’s nephew Nirav Modi, who remains in a British jail fighting his own extradition. For Choksi, the decisive test will come when Belgian courts hear the extradition petition in mid-September.
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