Choksi not fugitive but patient: Lawyer to contest arrest

After Mehul Choksi’s arrest, his lawyer Vijay Aggarwal on Monday claimed that the businessman was “not a fugitive, but a cancer patient”.

Aggarwal said they would not only contest the arrest, but also oppose the extradition request on “humanitarian and political grounds”.

“This is a political case. My client is not a flight risk and is gravely ill. He’s undergoing treatment for cancer and has consistently offered to cooperate through video-conference. His human rights will be severely compromised if he is extradited to India. We are filing an appeal immediately,” the lawyer said.

Aggarwal said his client was not categorised as a fugitive under the Indian law because he remained in contact with investigation agencies and had never evaded cooperation. “We have filed multiple applications offering that he will join the investigation virtually…. Despite his willingness, he couldn’t travel back due to serious health constraints,” he said.

The lawyer claimed that Choksi’s health was significantly compromised after his controversial 2021 detention in Dominica, allegedly orchestrated by Indian operatives. “Since then, he’s been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and permanent deformities. He’s claustrophobic and extremely unwell. Subjecting him to custodial proceedings now will be inhumane,” he said.

His legal team’s defence hinges on two core arguments: Allegedly politically motivated nature of the prosecution and the lack of adequate medical care for Choksi back home.

Aggarwal emphasised that extradition in such a context would violate international human rights norms. “This is not just about bail. The legal process in Belgium requires an appeal be filed against the arrest, during which we will request that Choksi not be detained. He should be allowed to defend himself freely,” he said.

India