PNB Scam Case: Centre Moves The Supreme Court Against Bombay HC Order Asking For Mehul Choksi's Medical Report

The central government has moved the Supreme Court to challenge a Bombay High Court order which had sought absconding fugitive Mehul Choksi's medical report to ascertain if he was fit to be extradited to India to face trial in various cases, including the USD 2 billion PNB scam.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared for the central government told the Supreme Court, that the Bombay High Court order could adversely affect the government's effort to extradite Choksi to India.

The Supreme Court said that it would consider the central government's submission and pass an order to list the plea.

The Bombay High Court had taken note of Choksi’s submission claiming that he was unwell and had sought his medical report to find out if he was fit to fly to India from Antigua.

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate had urged the Bombay High Court to withdraw Choksi’s right to legal defense and told the court that it was ready to provide an air ambulance to fly him down to India from Antigua, after he had claimed to be unwell due to a heart ailment.

The Enforcement Directorate had cited a Supreme Court observation namely the ‘Subhash Popatlal Dave versus the Union, 2012 case, wherein the court had refused to hear those who had evaded the process of law, to back its request.

The Bombay High Court had given J J Hospital’s medical specialists two weeks to submit a report on whether he is fit to travel to Mumbai to stand trial. The doctors are supposed to decide by July 9 if Choksi is fit to travel to India and submit their opinion to the court in a sealed envelope.