Mehul Choksi FEO Case: Mumbai Court Gives Defence Another Chance to Argue, Delaying Decision Once Again
Mumbai’s special court has given Mehul Choksi’s legal team another opportunity to present its arguments against the Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking his declaration as a Fugitive Economic Offender. (Photo Courtesy: X/Altered by FPJ)
Mumbai, September 17, 2026: The long-pending legal proceedings concerning fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi have been delayed once again, with a special court in Mumbai deciding to give his legal team another opportunity to present its arguments against the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) application seeking his declaration as a Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO).
The ED’s application, filed in July 2018, has remained pending before the special court for several years. Although the court was expected to pass an order on Thursday, September 17, the proceedings took another turn after Choksi’s lawyers requested that an earlier order be recalled and that they be allowed additional time to argue their case.
The court accepted the request, referring to the principles of natural justice and the importance of giving the respondent an opportunity to be heard. As a result, the court’s earlier order was recalled, and the matter has now been listed for further hearing next week.
Defence Seeks Another Opportunity
The matter came up before the special court on Thursday when Choksi’s lawyers, Yash Agarwal and Jasmin Purani, approached the court seeking another chance to make their submissions.
The court had previously rejected their request for an adjournment and had closed the application for orders, meaning the matter appeared ready for the court to pronounce its decision. However, the defence sought to have that order recalled.
The lawyers explained that they had requested additional time because they needed further instructions and clarification from Choksi. They also pointed out that Vijay Agarwal, one of the lawyers representing Choksi, was not available at the time.
The defence subsequently submitted that another lawyer was now prepared to argue the matter and requested that the court allow them to make their submissions before any final order was passed.
ED Opposes Further Delay
The Enforcement Directorate opposed the request, arguing that the defence had already been given several opportunities to present its case.
ED lawyer Kavita Patil told the court that since the application was originally filed, Choksi’s legal team had submitted more than 100 applications in connection with the proceedings. According to the ED, the defence had been given sufficient opportunities to present its arguments and the matter should now be brought to a conclusion.
The agency therefore opposed the request to reopen the stage of arguments and sought the court’s consideration of the application without further delay.
Court Cites Natural Justice
Despite the ED’s objections, the special court decided that Choksi’s lawyers should be given another opportunity to be heard.
The court observed that, in the interest of justice and in keeping with the principles of natural justice, the respondent must be given an opportunity to present arguments on the pending applications.
The court consequently recalled its earlier order and permitted the defence to make its submissions.
The decision means that the court will not pronounce its order on the ED’s FEO application at this stage. Instead, Choksi’s legal team will now get another opportunity to argue its position before the court.
ED’s FEO Plea Has Been Pending Since 2018
The proceedings relate to the ED’s application filed in July 2018 seeking to have Mehul Choksi declared a Fugitive Economic Offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.
The law provides a mechanism for dealing with individuals accused of involvement in economic offences who are alleged to have left India or refused to return to the country to face criminal proceedings.
The declaration of an individual as a fugitive economic offender can have significant legal consequences, including proceedings concerning the attachment and confiscation of properties connected with the alleged economic offences, subject to the applicable legal process.
In Choksi’s case, the ED has been pursuing the matter for several years, but the court has yet to issue a final decision on the application.
Hearing Expected Next Week
With the latest order, the proceedings have been pushed further.
The court has now scheduled the matter for hearing next week, when Choksi’s lawyers are expected to make their arguments on the ED’s application. The ED will also have an opportunity to put forward its position in accordance with the proceedings.
For now, the court has not made any final determination on whether Mehul Choksi should be declared a Fugitive Economic Offender. The issue remains before the special court and will be decided after the parties have been heard.
The latest development therefore adds another chapter to a legal process that has remained unresolved since the ED first approached the court in 2018.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
