Mehul Choksi

Belgium’s top court dismissed Mehul Choksi’s final appeal, rejecting claims of unfair trial and torture, clearing the way for his extradition to India in the ₹13,000-crore PNB fraud case.

The Antwerp Court of Appeal had upheld India’s request for Mehul Choksi’s extradition while terming it 'enforceable'

Choksi has challenged a previous order passed by the Antwerp Court of Appeals on October 17, which declared India’s extradition request to be “enforceable”.

The court said the documents filed by Choksi were insufficient to make it “concretely plausible” that he faced a “real, present and serious risk of being subjected to flagrant denial of justice, torture or inhuman and degrading treatment.”

The court order is a big blow to the fugitive businessman wanted for a Rs 13,000 crore bank fraud in the Punjab National Bank orchestrated in collusion with his nephew Nirav Modi, who is presently lodged in a London prison.

The Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London has agreed to hear the plea, which could push back his extradition, a move the Indian government plans to challenge.

Following his arrest in Belgium, Choksi moved a plea seeking to dismiss the plea filed by ED to declare him FEO.

Mehul Choksi is facing cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections related to criminal conspiracy, cheating and falsification of accounts,

The latest move followed a demand notice issued to Choksi on May 15, warning attachment of assets as well as bank accounts if he failed to make the payment within 15 days

The diamantaire was arrested in Antwerp by the Belgian police on April 12 based on an extradition request moved by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Choksi's request for release from prison is expected to be heard within a week.

Dubbed one of the biggest scams in the history of Indian banking, it involved the misuse of financial instruments to siphon Rs 13,850 crore, exposing loopholes in the banking system.

After living in Antigua for some time, Choksi had reportedly travelled to Belgium for a medical treatment.

In 2021, Choksi was detained in Dominica, while allegedly attempting to flee to Cuba by boat. However, his lawyers claimed that he was forcibly abducted from Antigua and taken to Dominica, after being honeytrapped by a woman.

The 65-year-old businessman who is a prime accused in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud is likely to be extradited to India.

Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi are the prime accused in a Rs 13,850-crore scam related to the Punjab National Bank (PNB). Nirav Modi continues to remain in a prison in London for the last six years

The fugitive businessman is living in Antwerp with his wife Preeti Choksi (known to be a Belgian citizen) after securing a 'residency card' in Belgium.

Previously, Choksi had claimed that he was suffering from mental health issues after alleged kidnapping in Antigua.

The ED, in collaboration with PNB and ICICI Bank, had also filed an application seeking restitution of assets worth over Rs 125 crore to their rightful owners and victims.

Snil Varma, a former international business head of Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Group, appeared before the court last week, almost seven years after the registration of the PNB fraud case. Following his appearance, the probe agency had sought his custody, which was rejected by special CBI court judge S M Menjoge.