Belgian court rejects fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s arguments against extradition to India

A Belgian court has rejected fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi’s arguments against his extradition to India in connection with the Rs 13,000-crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday.

Choksi, who is wanted by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate in India, was taken into custody by Belgian authorities in April on the basis of an extradition request from New Delhi.

Choksi is one of the prime accused, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, in the PNB fraud case.

On October 17, the Antwerp Court of Appeals ruled that Choksi's arguments against extradition to India were “irrelevant” and dismissed his claims of facing unfair treatment or torture upon return, The Indian Express reported.

The court held that Choksi had failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate his claims of a “flagrant denial of justice” or a risk of “inhuman or degrading treatment” in India.

Choksi had argued that extradition would violate his right to a fair trial, citing concerns about India's judicial independence and the possibility of political persecution.

He also reiterated claims that he had been abducted from Antigua and subjected to torture in Dominica by Indian agencies. However, the Belgian Court of Appeals found no substantial evidence to support these claims, PTI reported.

The court further rejected his argument that the charges against him were politically...

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