A Belgian court has rejected the bail petition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in connection with the Rs13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The order was delivered by a three-judge bench of the Antwerp Court following a lengthy closed-door hearing conducted in Dutch language, for which a translator was appointed to assist the parties involved.
Choksi, who was brought to court in handcuffs, reportedly expressed his willingness to stay with his family and offered to wear a GPS-enabled anklet for electronic monitoring if granted bail. He cited health concerns and his presence in Belgium as part of his plea. However, the court rejected his request, citing insufficient grounds.
According to the sources during the closed-door hearing, Choksi’s legal team argued that he had voluntarily submitted to Belgian authorities and was willing to comply with all conditions, including house arrest and electronic surveillance.They also highlighted his alleged grave medical condition, with Choksi claiming he is undergoing cancer treatment. Despite these arguments, prosecutors opposed bail, emphasizing the risk that Choksi could use his substantial international resources to flee again.
Sources said that Choksi’s legal team plans to appeal the court’s ruling, calling it “unjust” and asserting that it disregards his medical condition and fundamental rights.
Choksi, who was arrested in Antwerp on April 12 after evading law enforcement for nearly seven years, faces charges related to the PNB fraud case. His arrest followed an official extradition request from Indian enforcement agencies. Despite his plea for bail, the Antwerp Court denied relief, citing a “sufficient risk of absconding and interference with evidence” if he were released.
Currently held in an Antwerp jail, Choksi's Indian counsel, Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, met with him before the hearing to discuss his medical condition, legal papers, and other details. Aggarwal, not a practicing lawyer in the European Union, had to seek temporary approval from the Belgian Bar Council to represent Choksi during the proceedings.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has not approached the court to appear in the bail proceedings. However, a legal panel is expected to present India’s case during the upcoming extradition hearing.
Choksi was arrested following an official extradition request from Indian enforcement agencies last year, with local authorities tracking him to a residence in Antwerp’s suburbs last week. He was apprehended without resistance and taken into custody. The case now moves toward a full-fledged extradition trial, which is expected to commence soon.
