New Delhi: In a big blow to Mehul Choksi, one of the prime accused in a $2-billion Punjab National Bank fraud case, a Belgian Court Tuesday rejected his bail plea.
Refusing to release Choksi on bail, a three-member bench of the Belgian Court ruled that there is a legitimate apprehension of Choksi evading the grip of Belgian law enforcing authorities.
The Belgian Court also ruled that Choksi had fled India and acquired the nationality of Antigua, said people in the know. The court further held that the risk of Choksi fleeing Belgium cannot be counterbalanced with measures of fixing deposits (by Choksi).
Significantly, the court also found little force in Choksi's plea for immediate release on grounds of ill health. While the court recorded Choksi's claims of poor health, the court also held that Choksi has failed to demonstrate that he is not receiving requisite follow up for his medical checkups in the Belgian prison.
Earlier in the day, Choksi was produced before the court in handcuffs. He was later uncuffed to attend the court proceedings. The arguments and counter-arguments, as per the Belgian law, took place in Dutch language. The prosecutor presented its case following which the defence counsel for Choksi pressed for an immediate bail.
Choksi's lawyers offered that Choksi will wear a global positioning system (GPS) tracker anklet on his foot to monitor his movement if he is enlarged on bail. According to people in the know, Choksi was given the aid of an interpreter since the entire court proceedings took place in Dutch language.
After hearing both the sides-prosecution and defence-the court asked Choksi if he were to say something to the court. Choksi fervently argued in favour of a bail. He told the court that he wants to be with his family, said people quoted above.
As first reported by ET on April 14, Choksi was arrested by the Belgian Police earlier this month at the behest of the CBI. Meanwhile, as reported by ET on April 15, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has reached out to 10 countries in a bid to confiscate the foreign assets of Choksi.
ED, which probes money-laundering cases, is seeking to liquidate Choksi's assets and return the money to victims of the bank fraud, even as CBI is pushing for his extradition.
ED has sent 15 letters rogatory over the past few months to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the US, Belgium, China, Italy, Japan, the UK and the United Arab Emirates, formally requesting details of companies, assets, bank accounts and other information related to Choksi and his Gitanjali Group of companies. The letters to Thailand, the US, Japan and the Emirates also seek execution of provisional orders issued by Indian authorities for attaching Choksi's assets worth ₹85 crore.
Refusing to release Choksi on bail, a three-member bench of the Belgian Court ruled that there is a legitimate apprehension of Choksi evading the grip of Belgian law enforcing authorities.
The Belgian Court also ruled that Choksi had fled India and acquired the nationality of Antigua, said people in the know. The court further held that the risk of Choksi fleeing Belgium cannot be counterbalanced with measures of fixing deposits (by Choksi).
Significantly, the court also found little force in Choksi's plea for immediate release on grounds of ill health. While the court recorded Choksi's claims of poor health, the court also held that Choksi has failed to demonstrate that he is not receiving requisite follow up for his medical checkups in the Belgian prison.
Earlier in the day, Choksi was produced before the court in handcuffs. He was later uncuffed to attend the court proceedings. The arguments and counter-arguments, as per the Belgian law, took place in Dutch language. The prosecutor presented its case following which the defence counsel for Choksi pressed for an immediate bail.
Choksi's lawyers offered that Choksi will wear a global positioning system (GPS) tracker anklet on his foot to monitor his movement if he is enlarged on bail. According to people in the know, Choksi was given the aid of an interpreter since the entire court proceedings took place in Dutch language.
After hearing both the sides-prosecution and defence-the court asked Choksi if he were to say something to the court. Choksi fervently argued in favour of a bail. He told the court that he wants to be with his family, said people quoted above.
As first reported by ET on April 14, Choksi was arrested by the Belgian Police earlier this month at the behest of the CBI. Meanwhile, as reported by ET on April 15, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has reached out to 10 countries in a bid to confiscate the foreign assets of Choksi.
ED, which probes money-laundering cases, is seeking to liquidate Choksi's assets and return the money to victims of the bank fraud, even as CBI is pushing for his extradition.
ED has sent 15 letters rogatory over the past few months to Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, the US, Belgium, China, Italy, Japan, the UK and the United Arab Emirates, formally requesting details of companies, assets, bank accounts and other information related to Choksi and his Gitanjali Group of companies. The letters to Thailand, the US, Japan and the Emirates also seek execution of provisional orders issued by Indian authorities for attaching Choksi's assets worth ₹85 crore.
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