Editor’s Note
This article reports on the latest legal appeal by Mehul Choksi in the Belgian court system, following a ruling that upheld India’s extradition request in connection with the PNB fraud case. The next hearing is scheduled for December 9.
PNB Scam: Choksi has challenged the October 17 ruling of the Antwerp Court of Appeal in Belgium’s top court. That ruling upheld India’s request for his extradition, describing it as “valid.” According to officials, Choksi’s appeal will be heard on December 9. Let’s learn more about this in detail.
The hearing on fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi’s challenge to his extradition will be held on December 9 before Belgium’s Supreme Court – the Court of Cassation. Officials provided this information on Thursday.
Choksi has challenged the October 17 ruling of the Antwerp Court of Appeal in Belgium’s top court. That ruling upheld India’s request for his extradition, describing it as “valid.”
Advocate General Henri Vanderlinden said the Court of Cassation will hear the case on December 9. He told PTI that the appeal court only examines the decision of the lower appeal court on legal aspects, such as whether the appeal court correctly applied legal provisions and whether they followed the correct procedure.
Vanderlinden clarified, “The proceedings, in short, are written. As per the rules, all cases are heard. If the court refuses to admit the appeal, it will be on legal grounds, for example, the person who filed the complaint did not have the legal capacity to do so.”
He said parties must state their complaints in writing at the same time they appeal to the court.
On October 17, a four-member prosecution chamber in the Antwerp Court of Appeal found no deficiency in the orders issued by the pre-trial chamber of the district court on November 29, 2024. That order declared the arrest warrants issued by a special court in Mumbai in May 2018 and June 2021 as “enforceable,” paving the way for Choksi’s extradition.
The appellate court had ruled that there was no risk of Choksi, a main accused in the 13,000 crore rupee PNB scam, being denied a fair trial or facing ill-treatment if extradited to India. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its charge sheet that Choksi alone defrauded 6,400 crore rupees out of the total scam amount.
Choksi, who fled to Antigua and Barbuda in January 2018 just days before the scam was uncovered, was spotted in Belgium where he was reportedly receiving medical treatment. India sent the extradition request to Belgium on August 27, 2024, based on the arrest warrant issued by the special court in Mumbai.