This is an archive article published on April 14, 2025
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Will file appeal against Mehul Choksi’s arrest in Belgium, says lawyer; bail plea to cite his cancer treatment
PNB Bank Fraud Case, Mehul Choksi Arrest News: The lawyers for fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, who is accused in the PNB fraud case, had said earlier that he was in Belgium to undergo treatment for cancer.
In 2018, Mehul Choksi was named an accused in the Rs 13,000-crore PNB case. (Image credit: Maltin PR)
PNB Bank Fraud Case, Mehul Choksi Arrest News: The legal representative of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi, booked in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, said Monday they are in the process of filing an appeal against his arrest in Belgium. Choksi was arrested in the European nation on Saturday after India made an extradition request.
“Our appeal seeking his release on bail will mainly be on the ground that (due to) his medical condition, he is undergoing treatment for cancer. We will also be arguing that he is not a flight risk,” Choksi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told The Indian Express on Monday morning.
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He added that the case can come up for hearing only after five days, which is when they will be filing the appeal for bail.
In 2018, Choksi was named an accused in the Rs 13,000-crore PNB case in which allegedly fraudulent Letters of Undertaking were obtained from the bank, causing losses to it and undue benefit to the accused, who is said to have connived with some bank officials. As he remained absconding, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a plea in 2018 under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
Choksi has filed various applications challenging the final proceedings to declare him a fugitive economic offender. The special court in Mumbai is yet to decide on the applications. If Choksi is declared a fugitive economic offender and does not return, his properties can be confiscated even before the trial begins.
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During a previous hearing, Choksi’s lawyers had said that he was in Belgium to undergo cancer treatment. It was submitted that Choksi, who resided in the east Carribbean Republic of Antigua and Barbuda, travelled to Brussels in Belgium earlier this year to get “immediate and necessary medical treatment”. His lawyers told the court that he was unable to travel to India as he was advised against travelling due to his health condition.
In 2018, Mehul Choksi was named an accused in the Rs 13,000-crore PNB case. (Image credit: Maltin PR) 
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