NEW DELHI: In a significant development, the Antwerp Court of Appeal in Belgium has dismissed fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s appeal and upheld a decision to extradite him to India.Choksi is a central figure in the alleged Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.After examining the case, 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. The court, however, 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, however, found that he failed to provide “substantial grounds” to prove a “real risk” of inhuman treatment or a flagrant denial of justice.This ruling marks a major victory for Indian agencies seeking to bring Choksi back to face trial, bringing an end to his long-running legal battle in Belgium.
Agencies