Belgian Court Denies Mehul Choksi Bail; Extradition Proceedings Awaited

A Belgian Court of Cassation — similar to India’s Supreme Court — has denied Mehul Choksi’s request for bail. This ruling suggests that Choksi may face an extended prison term, according to sources familiar with the situation.

The Court of Cassation’s decision, delivered late last week, was highlighted by an anonymous official, indicating that it bolsters the case brought forward by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Choksi and supports the evidence submitted in court.

The official told Hindustan Times that, “The arguments provided by Choksi for his bail release were not persuasive. He is unlikely to receive any reprieve soon, even during the extradition process, which is not expected to commence until late September.”

Choksi, who holds Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship, was apprehended by police in Antwerp on April 11 following an extradition request from the CBI, and he has been in custody for nearly three months. His legal representatives have chosen not to comment on the situation.

According to the report, a team from the CBI recently traveled to Antwerp to present further evidence against Choksi and his companies.

In light of the ongoing extradition proceedings, the Indian team has secured a European law firm to assist Belgian prosecutors.

The case involves allegations under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, and cheating, which also constitute offenses in Belgium due to the dual criminality principle in their extradition treaty.

Additionally, the Indian authorities have invoked international treaties, specifically the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), in their extradition request.

Choksi reportedly sought bail on the grounds of ill-health, offering to wear a GPS-enabled anklet if released, but this proposition was also declined by the Belgian judiciary.

Indian officials have presented arguments in Belgian courts asserting that Choksi is a repeat offender who evades extradition whenever possible—as demonstrated in cases in the U.S. and Antigua and Barbuda.

It was emphasized that, should he be granted bail, he could easily escape to another European nation.