Belgian Court Delays Hearing on Mehul Choksi’s Challenge to Arrest Procedure

Brussels: The Belgian Court of Appeal has postponed the hearing of a petition filed by fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who challenged the legality of his arrest initiated at India’s request for extradition. The plea, prepared by his Belgian legal representatives and drafted by Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, alleges that Belgian authorities violated established legal protocols during his detention.

Choksi contends that his fundamental rights were breached and that the arrest process ignored essential principles of natural justice. He has sought immediate release, citing procedural lapses by law enforcement.

This legal move follows the court’s earlier decision to deny Choksi’s bail plea just last week. In his latest submission the second since his incarceration Choksi argues that the arrest process was arbitrary and unlawful. The court has yet to announce a new date for the adjourned hearing.

Choksi, a central figure in the ₹13,500 crore Punjab National Bank fraud case, was apprehended in Belgium earlier this month after an extradition request by India. A three-judge panel, conducting proceedings in Dutch, previously ruled against granting him bail.

Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, who was spotted in Antwerp for the bail proceedings and later visited Choksi in jail, shared his disappointment with ANI. He emphasized that under Belgian law, multiple bail applications are permitted.

“Unfortunately, my client has been denied bail today. However, we are allowed to file bail applications multiple times here. We will carefully review the court’s observations and soon submit a fresh plea on new grounds,” Aggarwal stated.

He also reiterated the defense strategy to oppose extradition, citing the case’s political dimensions and raising concerns over Choksi’s medical treatment in India. Aggarwal stressed that Choksi has previously cooperated with Indian investigative agencies and offered to join proceedings via video conferencing due to health issues.

Highlighting earlier extradition requirements, Choksi’s legal team pointed out that non-bailable warrants have been pending since 2018. Aggarwal also recalled prior unsuccessful efforts to extradite Choksi from Dominica, noting that he was receiving cancer treatment in Antigua before traveling to Belgium.