Mehul Choksi Is a Cancer Patient, Will File Appeal, Says Lawyer Vijay Aggarwal

The lawyer of Mehul Choksi, fugitive diamond trader, booked in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, said that Choksi is a cancer health condition is not stable as he is a cancer patient. The fugitive businessman from India was detained in Belgium by police on Saturday, April 12, said his lawyer. "His health condition is precarious, he is getting treatment for cancer. When he was taken from Antigua to Dominica, he got physical disorders, he is now patient of PTSD," told Choksi's lawyer Vijay Aggarwal to the news agency PTI.

VIDEO | PNB scam: On detention of fugitive Mehul Choksi in Belgium on the request of Indian agencies, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal says, "Mehul Choksi has been kept in prison, he was arrested on Saturday, appeal will be filed, in the appeal, a prayer of bail will be made. His health… pic.twitter.com/m8RO9DiTMe

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Aggarwal stated that the case can be heard only after five days, which is when they will file the appeal for bail, reported the Indian Express. "Mehul Choksi has been kept in prison, he was arrested on Saturday, appeal will be filed, in the appeal, a prayer of bail will be made," he added.

In 2018, Choksi was named in churches for the Rs 13,000 crore scam in the PNB case. He was accused of obtaining fraudulent Letters of Undertaking from the bank, causing losses to it and undue benefit to the accused, who is said to have connived with some bank officials.  The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a plea in 2018 under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. However, he remained absconding for years. The diamond trader filed several appeals in the court challenging Indian investigative agencies' declaration of him a fugitive economic offender.

Also Read | Mehul Choksi Arrested in Belgium on India’s Extradition Request.

The court in Mumbai is yet to decide on the applications. If Choksi is declared a fugitive economic offender and does not return, his properties will be auctioned to cover dept. Earlier, Choksi's legal team had stated that he was in Belgium to undergo cancer treatment. 

The lawyers of Choksi had told the court that Choksi travelled to Brussels in Belgium earlier this year to get “immediate and necessary medical treatment” and was unable to travel to India as he was advised against travelling due to his health condition.

Meanwhile, PNB scam whistle-blower Hariprasad SV said it is good news for India. He said it is important that the government of India bring back the money along with Choksi. "It is great news; finally, India could arrest him in Belgium. Indian agencies had gone to Antigua and other islands, but we had to return empty-handed. I hope this time we will be able to get him back."

"Government should also try to bring back the money, which is the most important thing. What would you do by just bringing him back and putting him in the jail," Hariprasad SV told PTI.

"We can only hope, what is the guarantee (of his return)? Because Choksi knows how to get away from the law, he can buy the best of lawyers in the world. He will try his best to escape from the arrest and avoid extradition. He is a smart guy... It is very important for Government of India to set an example by bringing back Choksi and his money. All his assets have been sealed, but that doesn't help much because the money he has taken is much more than his assets," the whistle-blower stated further.

Union MoS for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said, “There is zero tolerance policy for corrupts and fugitives in Modi government. And, the ones who have run away by taking money from nation and poor won’t be spared by this government. Mehul Choksi is arrested now and very soon he will be brought to India.”