Editor’s Note
This article reports on fugitive diamond businessman Mehul Choksi’s appeal to the Belgium Supreme Court, following a lower court’s rejection of his claims regarding political motivation in his case.
Fugitive diamond businessman Mehul Choksi has challenged the verdict of the Antwerp Court of Appeal in the Belgium Supreme Court.
The Antwerp court had dismissed Choksi’s claim that the extradition request was politically motivated, stating there was no basis to believe India had sought his return on grounds of race, religion, nationality, or political affiliation. The court also dismissed his argument that he had been illegally removed from Antigua on India’s instructions.
Mehul Choksi has approached the Belgium Supreme Court against the Antwerp Court of Appeal’s ruling. The case involves India’s request for his extradition in connection with the multi-crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. Authorities confirmed the filing on Monday.
According to Belgian authorities cited by news agency ANI, Choksi filed the appeal in the Supreme Court on October 30 against the Antwerp court’s October 17 order. Authorities stated that this was within the appeal deadline.