Punjab National Bank Loan Fraud Case: Mehul Choksis Bail Plea Rejected By Belgium Court

A Belgian courtroom has declined the bail plea of Mehul Choksi, a key accused within the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) mortgage fraud case. The three-judge bench, which performed the listening to in Dutch, dominated towards granting bail after reviewing the arguments. Choksi was once arrested in Belgium closing week following a request from Indian government.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had stated all the way through the weekly media briefing that India is operating with the Belgian aspect for Choksi’s extradition. “As you are aware, based on our extradition request, he was arrested in Belgium. We are closely working with the Belgian side for his extradition to India so that he can face trial in the country,” Jaiswal had stated answering a question. 

Earlier as of late, Choksi’s Indian attorney, Vijay Aggarwal, was once observed in Antwerp forward of the bail listening to and likewise visited Choksi in prison. After his arrest, Aggarwal mentioned that the felony workforce plans to attraction the verdict, emphasising “Choksi’s ill health and ongoing cancer treatment” as the main grounds for in search of his unlock. “My client, Mehul Choksi, is currently in custody. We will initiate the process of filing an appeal and request his release from prison, citing his medical condition and the fact that he is not a flight risk,” Aggarwal advised ANI.

During a press convention held in Delhi, Aggarwal defined the defence approach to contest Choksi’s extradition on two key grounds: The political nature of the case and issues over the remedy of Choksi’s well being situation in India. He argued that extradition may just seriously affect Choksi’s human rights, “particularly due to the lack of adequate medical care and the risk of harassment by political entities”.

Aggarwal claimed that Choksi has been cooperative with Indian investigative businesses and has expressed willingness to take part in investigations by the use of video conferencing because of his well being problems. The felony workforce additionally identified procedural must haves for extradition, together with the issuance of non-bailable warrants since 2018. Aggarwal famous that earlier makes an attempt to extradite Choksi from Dominica had failed, and Choksi have been receiving clinical remedy in Antigua ahead of travelling to Belgium for most cancers care.