Fugitive in the Rs 13400 crore Punjab National Bank scam, Mehul Choksi, who was arrested by the Belgian authorities on Saturday on India’s request was staying at an apartment at Binnenvaart straat 39, Eilandje area of Antwerp less than 4 km from the Indian Consulate building in Antwerp.
In a document that his lawyer has submitted to stall his extradition, labelled “Exhibit- 11”, which is a medical certificate concerning the certifying doctors has stated that they personally questioned and examined Choksi and found him to be 100% incapable of traveling due to ‘Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia.’ In the said certificate, accessed by this newspaper, doctors have stated that the period of travel incapacity is from 14 February to 31 August 31.
While the specific date of the examination is not provided, it likely occurred shortly before the stated period of incapacity, probably in early February 2025 or possibly in late January 2025, to assess his condition regarding travel during that time.
The Sunday Guardian in December had revealed ( Mehul Choksi is suing GOI in the UK to delay extradition ) that Choksi was staying in Antwerp and was taking medical at ZNA (Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen), a public hospital network which is around 20 minutes drive from his home.
The Sunday Guardian reached out to the said hospital for a confirmation on whether the said certificate that his lawyer has submitted was issued by the hospital or not. No response was received till the time the story went to press.
It is pertinent to mention that Choksi, who had parked much of the scam money outside India, months before he actually fled, has been using that wealth to engage high profile lawyers, medical experts, media managers to stall his delay to India.