Antwerp/New Delhi, Oct 18: In a major breakthrough for Indian authorities, a court in Antwerp, Belgium, has approved the extradition of fugitive diamond merchant Mehul Choksi to India, validating his arrest earlier this year and clearing the way for his return to face trial in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case.
The 66-year-old businessman, accused of orchestrating one of India’s biggest banking scams, now has 15 days to appeal the ruling before Belgium’s Supreme Court, potentially delaying his transfer.
Choksi was arrested in Antwerp on April 11 following a formal request from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and has remained in custody for over four months. Multiple bail requests were rejected, with the court noting that he posed a significant flight risk.
During Friday’s hearing, Belgian prosecutors representing India and Choksi’s defence team faced off over issues of dual criminality and citizenship. The court ruled that Choksi’s detention was lawful, confirming that the charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust, destruction of evidence, and corruption are punishable under Belgian law as well.
India strengthened its case by invoking international conventions such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime (UNTOC) and the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), both ratified by Belgium. CBI officials made three visits to Antwerp, submitting extensive evidence with assistance from a European law firm.
The documentary evidence cited six instances of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) and Foreign Letters of Credit (FLCs) issued between 2018 and 2022, causing losses of over Rs 6,344 crore to PNB.
A major point of contention during the proceedings was Choksi’s citizenship status. He claims to have renounced Indian nationality in December 2018 after acquiring Antiguan citizenship the previous year. India, however, maintains that Choksi remains an Indian citizen and is therefore subject to extradition.
To address humanitarian concerns, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs provided detailed assurances about detention conditions at Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, citing compliance with European human rights standards. The facility offers clean accommodation, medical care, regular exercise, and no solitary confinement.
The ruling marks a pivotal step in India’s eight-year pursuit of Choksi, who fled in January 2018 as the PNB fraud came to light. His nephew Nirav Modi is currently facing separate extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom.
Indian officials hailed the verdict as a “crucial milestone” in the country’s crackdown on economic fugitives, expressing confidence that the decision reinforces India’s global credibility in pursuing financial crime.
If the appeal is dismissed, Choksi could soon be extradited to India to stand trial bringing a long-running saga closer to resolution.