The Antwerp Court of Belgium has given a big decision regarding diamond businessman and PNB scam accused Mehul Choksi. The court has justified the arrest of Choksi and approved the demand of extradition of the Government of India. This means that now the way has been cleared to bring Choksi to India.

The Antwerp Court clearly said that Mehul Choksi is not a citizen of Belgium, hence the conditions related to civil security there do not apply to him. The court acknowledged that Choksi is a foreign national and the documents sent against him by the Government of India mention serious crimes.

The charges imposed by India include-

• Joining a criminal organization
• Fraud
• Embezzlement and Bribery by Public Office Holders
• Making and using fake documents

All these crimes can be punished in India, hence the Belgian court has considered them extraditable. Mehul Choksi has been continuously claiming that he was kidnapped from Antigua and taken to Belize or Dominica so that India could catch him, but the court termed this claim as false and without evidence.

What did the court say?

The court said that the documents which Choksi presented as evidence. Nowhere in them is it proved that his kidnapping took place at the behest of Indian agencies. The court said that the decision of the CCF Committee of Interpol in 2022 was also written very carefully and with conditions…therefore no concrete conclusion can be drawn from it. The court expressed confidence in India’s prison system.

The court also mentioned the documents received from the Government of India in which it was said that Mehul Choksi would be kept in Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. He will live in barrack number 12, where there are two cells and a private bathroom. He will be taken out only for medical or court appearance. Complete arrangements will be made for his stay and security in jail. The court said that the allegations made by Choksi that there is torture or bad conditions in Indian jails are based only on reports and press articles, which have no direct relation with his personal situation.

Choksi’s team accused India

Choksi’s team also said that he will not get a fair trial in India because the justice system there is not independent. On this, the court said, “No concrete evidence has been provided to prove that Indian courts are not independent or that Vigilance is being targeted for political reasons.” The court also said that media reporting or name appearing in the news does not prove that the person’s right to be considered innocent has been violated.

Mehul Choksi expressed concern about his health

Mehul Choksi also expressed concern about his health and said that he would not get proper treatment in Indian jails, but the court said that he did not provide any medical record or report which could prove that he had a serious or incurable disease.

Let us tell you that Mehul Choksi is the owner of Gitanjali Gems Limited of Gujarat and maternal uncle of Nirav Modi. Together, both of them are accused of scam of about Rs 13,500 crore from Punjab National Bank. After the matter came to light in 2018, Choksi fled India and later took the citizenship of Antigua. The Indian government is continuously trying to extradite him. Now that the Antwerp Court has approved India’s extradition request, the next step will be formal approval from the Belgian government. After that Indian agencies can start the process of bringing him to India.

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India has demanded extradition from Belgium to bring Mehul Choksi to the country in the case of Punjab National Bank’s Rs 12,000 crore scam. This includes things like adequate food, 24 hours medical facilities and clean hygiene.

66 -year -old vigil was arrested in April in Antwerp, Belgium. His lawyers say that they have serious health problems, including cancer, so it can be difficult to keep them in custody.

Arrangement will be made to stay in jail

The Ministry of Home Affairs said that the vigil will be kept in Barrack No. 12 of Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai. Prison facilities will include thick cotton mattress, pillow, sheets and blankets. A metal or wood bed can also be given if medical needs.

The weather of Mumbai is hot-water, so heating is not required in the cell. The food will be given three times and the needs of special diet will be met after medical approval.

These facilities will be available in jail

Fruits and snacks are available in the gel canteen. Exercise facilities are available at an open space daily and material for indoor games, badminton, yoga, meditation, library and studies will also be available.

The jail hospital has six medical officers, nursing staff, pharmacists and lab support. There is a fully equipped medical facility with 20 beds. If needed, the vigil will be shown from a specialist doctor in a nearby government hospital.

Detail plan sent to Belgium Court

All these details have been shared to show the Belgium Court that the custody of vigil in India will be according to international human rights standards. Such assurances are common in the extradition process.

Recently, foreign officials also visited Tihar Jail, where they reviewed the security of the prisoners, food and living situation. British officials also recently inspected the Tihar Jail.

Significantly, the situation of jails has been an important issue for a long time. The British courts have several times formed India’s prison conditions to dismiss extradition petitions.

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