Belgian Court approves Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India

A court in Belgium has approved the extradition of fugitive diamond trader Mehul Choksi to India. Mehul Choksi is wanted in the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. The court in Antwerp on Friday ruled that Choksi’s arrest by Belgian police, based on India’s request, was valid. This marks a major step toward bringing the fugitive diamond trader back to India to face justice. 
Mehul Choksi was arrested on 11th of April by Antwerp police following a formal extradition request from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He has remained in custody since then, with multiple bail pleas denied due to concerns he might flee. During the hearing, Belgian prosecutors supported India’s case, while Choksi’s legal team opposed the move. The court confirmed that all charges, including cheating, criminal conspiracy, and corruption, are valid under Belgian law as well. Choksi now has 15 days to appeal the decision in Belgium’s Supreme Court. If the appeal fails or is not filed, his return to India will proceed.
The development comes six months after Belgian authorities detained Choksi on the request of the Indian government. India has been trying to have Choksi extradited since December 2018 when Interpol issued a Red Order Notice against him. Uncle of another fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, and former promoter of Gitanjali Gems, Choksi is accused in Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate cases linked to a bank loan fraud involving the Punjab National Bank, which came to light in 2018.
The decision of the Belgian court comes weeks after the Indian government submitted a sovereign guarantee on providing Choksi with humanitarian conditions at par with standards set by European human rights laws. Indian agencies pursuing legal proceedings in foreign courts against several fugitives such as Nirav Modi, Vijay Mallya and Sanjay Bhandari, among others.