The Belgian government cannot extradite him without being held internationally liable; there is a violation of his right to a fair trial; and there are indications that he is subject to a political trial—these were some of the key points that Mehul Choksi, the fugitive diamond trader wanted in India for the alleged Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, made before a court in Antwerp. However, the court found last week that the arguments he put forward against his extradition were “irrelevant” and “in no way detract from the foregoing”.

Choksi can appeal against the Court of Appeal’s preliminary judgment before the Belgian Supreme Court within 15 days, a source said.

The order was issued on October 17, a month after the Indian government gave a letter of assurance to

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