New Delhi:After the arrest of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi in Belgium, Indian investigative agencies have stepped up their efforts. According to sources, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are preparing to send officials to Belgium ahead of Choksi’s court hearing. Both agencies have finalized the list of officers to be dispatched, and they are expected to leave soon.
Choksi was arrested on April 12 in Belgium at the request of Indian authorities through Interpol. Reports suggest he was planning to flee to Switzerland but was apprehended before he could escape.
Three officers each from the ED and CBI will be sent to Belgium. Following their selection, necessary documents are being prepared, and the team is expected to depart in the coming days.
India Moves Forward With Extradition, While Choksi Plans Legal Challenge
Meanwhile, Choksi’s lawyer revealed on Monday that they are planning to file a petition in a Belgian court against his arrest. The lawyer claimed that Choksi is suffering from blood cancer and is undergoing treatment, which should be grounds for medical bail.
He further argued that Choksi is not a flight risk and that they will file for bail after the court hearing, which may take place in about five days.
Choksi fled India in 2018 and settled in Antigua, where he acquired citizenship despite holding Indian nationality. Recently, Interpol’s Red Corner Notice against him was reportedly withdrawn, prompting Indian agencies to pursue his extradition more aggressively.
India and Belgium have a longstanding extradition treaty, which strengthens India’s chances of bringing Choksi back. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the extradition will proceed or if Choksi will succeed in halting it through legal means.