After the arrest of fugitive Indian businessman Mehul Choksi in Belgium, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said on Monday that he would file an appeal to release the businessman from custody, citing the poor health and ongoing cancer treatment.
Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday after local authorities confirmed his presence in the country. Sources said that preparations are being made for his extradition to India. However, Choksi has started preparing for a legal battle, for which lawyers are trying to get bail.
ANI in Delhi, Choksi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal said, “My client Mehul Choksi has been arrested in Belgium and he is currently in custody. We will start the process of filing an appeal against it and then as a process of appeal, we will request that he be taken out of jail. The main basis of the petition is his poor health and he is not under any danger of the cancer and he is sure of no danger to run.”
The legal team says that Choksi has strong reasons for challenging extradition request, cited his health status among other arguments.
Aggarwal said, “There is no pressure. This is a process. Non-bailable warrants have been issued against him since 2018. It is a condition for extradition that there should be an open-ended, non-bailable warrant. Earlier, they tried to take it from the dominica, where they remained unsuccessful. Then, by the order of the Dominican Court, then the dominican court order was being treated, my mavakil was being treated in an antigation. He was a process of cancer, and is a process for any country, with any other country to be treated.
The 65 -year -old fugitive diamond merchant left India on January 2, 2018. It is desired by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of fraud of Rs 13,850 crore from PNB. His nephew Nirav Modi was also involved in this fraud.
After the arrest, Hariprasad SV, the whistleblower of the Punjab National Bank scam, said that it would be very difficult for India to bring Choksi back home, as it would appoint the best lawyers in Europe to avoid this process.
Speaking to ANI, Hariprasad recalled the time when Choksi was successful in avoiding the process when caught in Dominica.
He said, “extradition is not an easy task. Choksi’s pocket is full and will appoint the best lawyers in Europe to avoid a process like Vijay Malia. I don’t think it will be easy for India to bring it back.”
He also said that Choksi has cheated at least 100 franchisees and most of them have registered cases in various cities of India.
Hariprasad said, “The legal system in India is undoubtedly very good, but the extradition process depends on the country with which we are working. This matter is not going to be easy, because it has a lot of money.”
