Mehul Choksi Files Lawsuit Against Indian Government in UK to Halt Extradition Process

Antiguan and Barbudan citizen Mehul Choksi, a man wanted in India, is suing the Indian government and five others in the UK for millions of dollars.

He claims this is because of the mental and physical trauma he suffered due to the Indian government’s actions. This lawsuit may complicate the ongoing Free Trade Agreement talks between the UK and India.

Choksi’s lawsuit appears to be a strategy to delay his extradition to India. By using the UK courts, he hopes to leverage media attention and psychiatric evaluations to support his case.

He believes the UK might grant him asylum, even though the incident he refers to happened in Antigua and Barbuda, not the UK.

Currently, Choksi is in Antwerp, Belgium, receiving medical treatment and is connected to family living in Belgium. India has extradition agreements with both the UK and Belgium.

Choksi’s legal team, including a London law firm, filed the initial claim with the High Court in the UK. This document outlines the dispute and his reasons for seeking legal action. The claim is against the Government of India and five individuals in the UK.

The legal process will involve several steps, starting with the defendants acknowledging the claim. If they choose to contest it, they must file a defense.

The court will then review the case and may schedule hearings to address various issues. This process could take three to four years before it reaches trial.

In his lawsuit, Choksi is seeking both general and special damages for distress, anxiety, medical costs, and expenses related to what he claims was an abduction.