Meul Choksi is suffering from fresh legal blow as the Belgian Court adjourned the second plea explanation today news news

A Belgian court adjourned the hearing over a second plea filed by the Refugee Diamond Merchant Mehul Choksi in which he demanded his immediate release and disputed his arrest, citing procedural irregularities. Earlier this month, he was arrested by the Belgian authorities after an official request from the Indian authorities for his extradition. Choksi claims procedural irregularities during arrest Choxi, a key accused in the £ 13,500 Crore Punjab National Bank Loan Fraud case, claimed that the Belgian authorities did not comply with the prescribed legal procedures during his arrest. In his plea before the Belgian Court of Appeal, he also said that the authorities disregarded the proper process and violated its fundamental rights, violating the principles of natural justice. This development comes a few days after the Belgian court rejected Choksi’s bail in the same case. Last week, a Belgium court denied the bail of Mehul Choksi. A bank of three judges heard arguments in the Dutch before he certainly granted bail. Choksi’s lawyer Vijay Aggarwal told the news agency Ani that the Belgian law allows several bail applications. “Unfortunately, my client was denied bail today. In Belgium, however, we may apply to bail as much as needed. We will carefully consider the observations of the court and submit a new bail square on new grounds soon,” Aggarwal said. He also reiterated that Choksi’s legal team would dispute its extradition on two main grounds-the political nature of the case and concern about his medical condition and treatment in India. He said earlier that Choxi worked with Indian investigations agencies and that he repeatedly offered to participate in the investigation at video conferencing because of his health issues. Earlier, the Choxi legal team also pointed out procedural prerequisites for extradition, including the issuance of not available, since 2018. Previous attempts to deliver Choxi from Dominica, failed, and Choksi received medical treatment in Antigua before traveling to Belgium for cancer care, says Aggarwal. The next date for the hearing has not yet been notified. First published: 29 Apr 2025, 06:15 IST