MUMBAI: In a 34-page reply seeking a dismissal of the

's (ED) plea to declare him a fugitive economic offender, absconding businessman Mehul

told the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court that he had been corresponding with the

(

) to settle the dues. Choksi claimed that the ED had deliberately not placed this correspondence before the court in a bid to mislead it.

The reply was submitted before special judge M S Azmi on Monday through advocates Sanjay Abbot and Rahul Agarwal. The Enforcement Directorate had moved a plea seeking to declare Choksi a fugitive economic offender and confiscate his properties under the provisions of Fugitive Economic Offenders Act.

Choksi's reply alleged that the ED had deliberately undervalued many of the properties attached in a bid to enable it to attach more properties. The properties attached include those valued in the range of Rs 89 crore to Rs 537 crore.

Choksi also cited his various health issues and said that it wouldn't be possible for him to endure a 41-hour flight back to India. The plea also lamented the "tortoise speed" at which probe in the case are being conducted, and speculated that it would take years for the trial to even commence.