No evidence of India kidnapping Mehul Choksi, says Belgium Court:India moves one step closer to fugitive diamond merchant’s extradition

The Antwerp Court of Appeal in Belgium has stated that there is no documentary evidence of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi’s kidnapping in Antigua that proves it was done at the behest of Indian authorities. This court decision could clear the way for Choksi’s extradition. In fact, Choksi is making all possible attempts to avoid coming to India. As part of this, in June 2022, he filed a case against the Indian government and Indian agents alleging kidnapping through honeytrap in Antigua. According to Choksi, he was kidnapped by Indians in May 2021. During the hearing of the case, India had dismissed all allegations. Reached Dominica from Antigua, spent 51 days in jail In May 2021, Choksi reached Dominica from neighbouring country Antigua. He was arrested here. A CBI team reached Dominica to get him extradited, but before that he got relief from the British Queen’s Privy Council. Later he was handed over to Antigua. However, Mehul Choksi had to spend 51 days in Dominica’s jail. Here, he had argued that he wanted to go to Antigua and get treatment from a neurologist there. A few days after reaching Antigua, the Dominica court also dismissed the cases filed against Choksi. Court said – Extradition will not have any adverse effect on Choksi The court said “The crimes that have occurred should not be considered non-extraditable offenses related to politics, military, or tax. India has not requested Choksi’s extradition to prosecute or punish him based on his race, caste, religion, nationality, or political views. Nor does it appear that he will be adversely affected due to any of these reasons.” Belgian authorities also pointed out the difference in conditions between Delhi’s Tihar Jail and Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail. Earlier in September, India had promised the Belgian government that Mehul Choksi’s human rights would not be violated and he would not be kept in solitary confinement. Court approved extradition on October 17 A court in Antwerp, Belgium approved the extradition of India’s fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi on Friday 17 October. Officials said the court found that Choksi’s arrest by Belgium police at the request of Indian agencies was valid. However, Choksi still has the right to appeal to a higher court. If he does not appeal or if the appeal is dismissed, the process of deporting him to India will proceed. Choksi accused of ₹13,850 crore scam Choksi is accused of committing a scam worth ₹13,850 crore. Mehul was living with his wife Priti Choksi, who has obtained Belgian citizenship. The Belgian Foreign Ministry had provided information about Choksi’s presence. At the time of arrest, Mehul Choksi was trying to flee from Belgium to Switzerland. Police cited two arrest warrants while arresting Choksi. These were issued by a Mumbai court on 23 May 2018 and 15 June 2021. Whistleblower says – Not easy to bring Choksi back Punjab National Bank scam whistleblower Hariprasad SV said about Mehul Choksi’s arrest that extradition is not an easy task. He can hire the best lawyers in Europe, just like Vijay Mallya is doing. Therefore, it is not easy for India to bring him back. Hariprasad said that although Choksi was caught in Antigua, he managed to escape from there because he had a large team of lawyers. It won’t be that easy for the Government of India, though he hoped the government would succeed this time.